Audi-backed Emma Felbermayr bounced back from a disappointing Qualifying session to claim victory in the Silverstone reverse-grid race at the third round of the 2026 F1 Academy season. The Austrian driver converted pole into a lights-to-flag victory to secure her second win of the season.
Having maintained her pace out in front, Felbermayr finished two seconds clear of the rest of the pack, with Nina Gademan and Ella Lloyd completing the podium. Reflecting on her race, the Audi driver said: “We had a good start and a good first lap. It was important for me to get Nina out of the tow a bit because here there are long straights.”
“I didn’t have anyone in front of me, so straight line speed could be quite different if you don’t have one in front. That was the goal for Lap 1, which I did.”
“Ella and Nina were fighting a bit, so that helped me. I think we found good pace from straight on in the race, which I usually struggle a bit with, but today we managed it quite well.”
Felbermayr “feeling good” ahead of Sunday’s Feature Race
With her win, she reduces the deficit to current championship leader Alisha Palmowski, who finished the race in P5. “My goal for the season always was to maximize every race and I did today.”, Felbermayr explained. “I started P1, I couldn’t go further and that was all I could do today. I missed out on the fastest lap point by just a little bit.”
“It helps to close the gap a bit to Alisha. Obviously, tomorrow is going to be the more difficult starting from P8. think in Qualifying I just didn’t put it together. Pole was definitely not in it, but P3 could have been possible with all my sectors. The pace was there yesterday, I just couldn’t show it really but it was today.”
Starting from the midfield for the Feature Race, the Audi driver is positive about what they can achieve. Noting that they found some pace from Friday to Saturday, Felbermayr acknowledged they had taken a positive step forward.
“In the middle of the race, we lost some pace compared to Nina, but in the end the last two laps were really strong. I’m feeling good, it definitely looks better than yesterday. We found a bit and maybe getting an extra little bit for tomorrow, but it’s not too bad to start from.”
