Payton Westcott remains confident of challenging for victory at the 2026 F1 Academy United States GP after narrowly missing out on pole position during a closely contested Qualifying session at the Circuit of the Americas. The Mercedes-backed PREMA Racing driver delivered one of her strongest performances of the season, securing second place on the grid for both the Opening Race and Feature Race.
Although championship leader Alisha Palmowski ultimately claimed both pole positions by just 0.098s, Westcott took encouragement from her pace and continued development throughout her rookie campaign. With two front-row starts at her home event, the 17-year-old now hopes to convert her qualifying performance into another race victory.
Westcott takes positives from dramatic Austin Qualifying
Westcott established herself among the leading contenders early in the session, placing third with her first competitive lap before moving into second. As track conditions improved, she remained within striking distance of Palmowski and continued to push for the fastest time.
Despite briefly dropping to seventh, Westcott responded with a 2:07.812 to claim provisional pole with two minutes remaining. However, Palmowski subsequently improved to a 2:07.714 before officials deleted her final lap for exceeding track limits. Although Westcott initially inherited pole, the subsequent reinstatement of Palmowski’s time relegated her second.
Nevertheless, Westcott remained satisfied with her performance and identified opportunities for further improvement.
“I think I did quite a good job,” she said to F1 Academy. “They aren’t bad starting positions, so I’m really happy about that. I think there’s definitely an opportunity to learn and grow from this. There are definitely some things I could have done better on my side, but that’s all just an opportunity to grow.”
Rookie season progress strengthens Westcott’s confidence
Beyond her strong qualifying performance, Westcott views her pace in Austin as further evidence of her development throughout the 2026 F1 Academy season. The American has steadily established herself as a competitive presence, securing third-place finishes in Shanghai and Montreal before celebrating her maiden victory in the Zandvoort Reverse Grid Race.
Her lights-to-flag triumph in the Netherlands marked an important milestone, particularly after a challenging weekend at Silverstone. Furthermore, in a recent exclusive interview with Pit Debrief, Westcott discussed the importance of patience, learning from difficult experiences and maintaining her development as a driver.
Consequently, her latest qualifying result reinforced her belief in the progress she has made.
“This definitely shows a lot of progression, which is exactly what I have wanted since the beginning of the season. I’m very glad to be showing this upward slope. I think these results show how much I have grown as a driver.”
Westcott prepares aggressive approach for Austin races
With two front-row starts to her name, Westcott believes she has a genuine opportunity to challenge Palmowski for victory on home soil. Moreover, her previous success at Zandvoort has already demonstrated her ability to convert a favourable starting position into a race win.
However, Palmowski presents a formidable challenge. The championship leader has consistently demonstrated impressive qualifying and race pace throughout the season, meaning Westcott must capitalise on every opportunity to move ahead.
Nevertheless, the Mercedes-backed driver intends to approach the races with confidence rather than caution. Following her encouraging qualifying performance, she outlined her determination to fight aggressively at the front.
“My approach will definitely be aggressive,” she asserted. “I think with my two front-row starts in the background, I think that I can be a bit more on the aggressive side and really show some of my true colours, so I think that I definitely have a good shot to win tomorrow.”
Double front-row start offers opportunity for further success
Westcott’s qualifying performance also strengthens her prospects of climbing the Drivers’ Championship standings during the closing stages of the season. Having entered the Austin weekend fifth in the standings, the PREMA Racing driver remains eager to build on her achievements and finish her rookie campaign strongly.
Additionally, the unusual three-race format in Austin provides another opportunity to maximise her points haul. While the Reverse Grid Race presents a different challenge, her second-place starting positions for the Opening Race and Feature Race place her firmly among the leading contenders.
Ultimately, Westcott’s performance at the Circuit of the Americas demonstrates how far she has progressed since the opening round. Although she narrowly missed her maiden pole position, her renewed confidence, proven race-winning ability and determination to challenge Palmowski could prove decisive as she pursues further success in front of her home crowd.
