F1 Academy | 2026 United States GP | Reverse Grid Race results

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The Reverse Grid Race at Round 5 of the 2026 F1 Academy season has been completed at the United States GP, view the full results here.

With the top eight reversed, Saturday’s F1 Academy race in Austin began with Rafaela Ferreira on pole ahead of Jade Jacquet, Lisa Billard and Alba Larsen. Championship leader Alisha Palmowski started eighth, one place ahead of title rival Emma Felbermayr, while Nina Gademan retained a mathematical chance.

Drama struck on the formation lap when Natalia Granada, starting fifth, stopped after Turn 12. Although she restarted, she reclaimed her grid position rather than starting from the pit lane, attracting the stewards’ attention.

Ferreira led initially, while Felbermayr passed Palmowski on the opening lap. Larsen overtook Billard before Jacquet seized the lead from Ferreira into Turn 12. However, Ferreira’s attempted counterattack at Turn 16 spun Jacquet around. Wildcard Alexia Danielsson could not avoid her, forcing both drivers to retire and bringing out the Safety Car.

Larsen capitalised to take the lead, while Palmowski moved back ahead of Felbermayr amid the chaos, having also passed Payton Westcott. When racing resumed on Lap 6, Ferreira dropped down the order and received a five-second penalty for the collision. Granada also received a ten-second stop-and-go penalty for her formation-lap infringement.

Palmowski climbed to third after she and Felbermayr overtook Gademan. Meanwhile, contact involving Ella Lloyd, Rachel Robertson and Ella Stevens disrupted the midfield. On Lap 10, Palmowski slipstreamed past Billard into Turn 12 for second.

She maintained that position to the chequered flag, securing an additional point for fastest lap. Larsen claimed her maiden F1 Academy victory, with Billard completing the podium, while Palmowski’s runner-up finish sealed the 2026 Drivers’ Championship.