Alba Larsen returned to the front row in F1 Academy Qualifying at the 2026 Dutch GP after navigating a difficult wet-to-dry session at Zandvoort.
Larsen showed strong pace throughout Qualifying as changing conditions, two red flags and traffic complicated the fight for pole. She moved to the top of the timesheets during the closing stages with a 1:41.775, but Alisha Palmowski produced a 1:40.911 on her final attempt to take pole by more than eight tenths.
The result nevertheless marked a significant turnaround for Larsen. After qualifying second at the opening round in Shanghai, she started sixth in Montreal, seventh at the second Montreal round and 13th at Silverstone before returning to P2 at Zandvoort.
Larsen left with “mixed feelings” after P2 in F1 Academy Reverse Grid Race at Zandvoort
Despite missing out on her maiden F1 Academy pole position, Larsen took plenty of encouragement from returning to the sharp end of the field in Zandvoort. The result marked an important response after a run of more difficult weekends and put her back in a strong starting position for the Feature Race.
While the disappointment of narrowly missing pole remained, Larsen focused on the way she had recovered and rediscovered the pace needed to fight at the front. For her, the qualifying result also reflected the resilience she has built over the course of the season.
“I have a bit of mixed feelings. I’m really happy to be back at the top where I belong. P2 is great. I have shown that even after bad weekends and bad luck, I know how to get back up.”
Traffic leaves Larsen wondering what could have been
Larsen believed her performance demonstrated the progress she has made mentally after several challenging weekends. However, having shown front-running pace throughout the changing conditions, she admitted that missing the opportunity to complete another clean lap left her frustrated.
“I think that, that shows really great mental strength and that’s something that I have been working on. I’m really glad to be back at the top. I’m a bit gutted about P1, I had it throughout the whole Qualifying. I was quickest in the wet, when it was drying and I didn’t get my last lap, I got a lot of traffic and I had to overtake like five cars. So without the traffic, I think I could have gone for pole. But you never know and it is what it is. It is what it is. It’s still front row and we can definitely race from there.”
The Ferrari junior had already demonstrated her speed on Friday, finishing third in Practice behind Nina Gademan and Rafaela Ferreira. She then carried that pace into a Qualifying session which forced the drivers to repeatedly adjust as the circuit dried.
Larsen confident in her ability to adapt
The uncertain weather did little to unsettle Larsen. Instead, she looked comfortable as the grip level evolved throughout the session and quickly adjusted to the different conditions around Zandvoort.
That confidence had already started to build during Practice, when the threat of rain also made conditions difficult to predict. Larsen carried that feeling into Qualifying and remained competitive as the track changed, allowing her to stay in the fight at the front during both the wetter and drier phases of the session.
She felt that her ability to adapt played a major role in securing a place on the front row, even if missing out on pole still left her disappointed.
“I felt super comfortable throughout yesterday’s Practice, where we also didn’t know quite if it was going to rain or not and this Qualifying with different conditions throughout the session. I felt very comfortable and just confident in my ability to adapt.”
“I think I was the best to adapt to the conditions. I am a bit gutted about the P1 of course, but it’s definitely good to be back.”
Larsen predicted a chaotic F1 Academy Reverse Grid Race at Zandvoort
Qualifying placed Larsen seventh on the Reverse Grid Race starting grid, giving her an opportunity to work her way through the field before starting Sunday’s Feature Race from the front row. Before the race, Larsen expected an unpredictable contest and viewed it as an opportunity to learn ahead of the Feature Race.
“I think this afternoon’s race is going to be chaotic. I will try to stay clean and move up a few positions. I have the speed in terms of the cars in front of me, so I’m definitely ready and just gaining a lot of knowledge for tomorrow’s race when it counts.”
Her prediction proved accurate. Two Safety Car periods interrupted the race, but Larsen steadily climbed through the order. She passed Rachel Robertson around the outside of Turn 1 for third before using another move around the outside at the same corner to take second from Gademan after the second restart.
Larsen then chased leader Peyton Westcott to the chequered flag, eventually finishing second and recording her best result of the 2026 season. She also set the fastest lap as Westcott held on to secure her maiden F1 Academy victory.
Feature Race remains Larsen’s main opportunity
Even before securing her Reverse Grid Race podium, Larsen stressed that she wanted to maximise every opportunity without allowing Saturday’s result to dictate her approach to the Feature Race.
“It’s obviously important to finish every race and to do a good result in every way you can, but I’m not so focused on how it goes. You never know if there’s a Safety Car the whole race. It’s hard to move up, but just get the best start of the race and just gain a lot of knowledge for tomorrow. Tomorrow is where it really counts for me, starting from the front row, and I’m really excited about it.”
After turning seventh on the grid into second in the F1 Academy Reverse Grid Race, Larsen will now line up alongside Palmowski on the front row for Sunday’s Feature Race as she looks to convert her Zandvoort pace into another strong result.
