Emma Felbermayr currently sits second in the 2026 F1 Academy Drivers’ Standings with 78 points. The Audi-backed Rodin Motorsport driver is Alisha Palmowski‘s closest title challenger. Two victories and a run of consistent points finishes across the opening three rounds have kept her in the fight, with a 30-point gap to Palmowski still very much closable.
Felbermayr opens the 2026 F1 Academy season with a victory at Shanghai
Felbermayr made a statement in Shanghai. She finished seventh in the Reverse Grid Race before going on to claim the Feature Race victory at the Shanghai International Circuit. It was the first win of the 2026 F1 Academy season and moved her to the top of the standings after Round 1.
The Feature Race was not without its challenges. A safety car period brought the field together and reset the race, but Felbermayr handled the restart with composure and held off Palmowski to the flag. It was a commanding performance that showed both her outright pace and her ability to manage a race under pressure.
A quieter round in Montreal for Felbermayr
Montreal proved more difficult for Felbermayr. In the 2026 F1 Academy Canadian GP Opening Race, she stalled as the lights went out and was left stranded as the rest of the field pulled away. She charged back through the field to tenth, but the early chaos cost her points she would have expected to score.
The Reverse Grid Race brought further frustration. Felbermayr found herself in a battle with Larsen early on before being spun around, dropping her out of contention. She recovered to sixth in the final classification after post-race penalties reshuffled the order. It was another race where circumstances worked against her rather than anything of her own making.
The Feature Race was where Felbermayr showed what she is capable of. Starting fourth on a wet track, Felbermayr worked her way up to second, passing Westcott in the closing laps to finish behind Palmowski. It was the result that salvaged the weekend.
Felbermayr delivers a strong weekend at Silverstone
Felbermayr struggled in qualifying at Silverstone, leaving her eighth on the grid with work to do in both races. She responded well. A lights-to-flag Reverse Grid Race victory, was followed by a third place in the Feature Race behind Palmowski and wild card Bättig.
The double podium kept her firmly in second in the standings. It also reinforced her position as Palmowski’s main title rival. Despite that, qualifying has been one of the few areas where Felbermayr has not delivered consistently. Improving that will be key in the second half of the season.
What the second half of the 2026 F1 Academy season holds for Felbermayr
Felbermayr carries 78 points into the second half of the 2026 F1 Academy season. Three rounds remain at Zandvoort, Austin, and Las Vegas. The pace and race craft are clearly there to challenge for the title. Closing a 30-point gap to Palmowski will require consistent front-running results across all three rounds. If Felbermayr can qualify closer to the front and carry her race pace through a full weekend, another victory is well within reach.
Within the Rodin Motorsport garage, Felbermayr has clearly been the standout driver. Teammate Ella Lloyd sits fifth in the standings with 39 points, while Ella Stevens has scored just four points all season. Felbermayr has outscored both combined and has been the more consistent performer across all three rounds.
