The first-ever F1 Academy Opening Race at the 2026 Canadian GP saw the new format introduced for the first time this season, view the full results here.
After a successful Qualifying session, Campos Racing locked out the front row, with Alisha Palmowski on pole and Megan Bruce alongside her for the first race of the weekend. With a strong opportunity to score valuable points, both drivers were aiming to capitalise on their starting positions.
Unfortunately for the championship leader, Emma Felbermayr stalled off the line at lights-out but eventually managed to get going again. However, with strong starts off the line, both Palmowski and Bruce began to pull away from the pack.
Meanwhile, further down the field, drivers were battling for the final points-scoring positions. After damaging her front wing, Lisa Billard was forced to pit, which saw her quickly drop down the order. The next driver to endure a difficult start to the weekend was LEGO’s Esmee Kosterman, who entered the pits with a broken front wing and a puncture.
But as drivers settled into a rhythm, significant gaps began to form. The stewards began noting several incidents, as Payton Westcott was handed a five-second time penalty for failing to follow the race director’s instructions. Soon, a mistake from the American driver saw her run wide over the chicane as she dropped far down the order.
Out in front with four laps to go, Palmowski had the race under control, building a lead of over seven seconds. After stalling at the start, Felbermayr charged through the field with a recovery drive, eventually working her way back into the top ten.
As Bruce and Paatz continued to fight for P2, Palmowski secured victory out in front with a commanding ten-second lead, the largest winning-margin ever in the championship’s history.
F1 Academy | 2026 Canadian GP | Opening Race results
- A. Palmowski
- M. Bruce
- M. Paatz
- R. Ferreira
- A. Larsen
- E. Lloyd
- K. Countryman
- E. Stevens
- N. Gademan*
- E. Felbermayr
- A. Fisher
- J. Jacquet
- R. Robertson*
- N. Granada
- L. Billard
- P. Westcott**
- A. Dobson
- E. Kosterman*
Notes:
- Rachel Robertson received a five-second time penalty for causing a collision with Natalia Granada. She dropped from P11 to P13.
- Payton Westcott has received a five-second time penalty for failing to serve an in-race penalty. She stays P16. She had received a five-second time penalty for failing to follow the Race Director’s instructions.
- Nina Gademan received a five-second time penalty for failing to follow the Race Director’s instructions. This was applied in-race and does not affect her initial finishing position.
- Esmee Kosterman received a five-second time penalty for speeding in the pit lane. She stays P18.
