The 2026 F1 Academy Dutch GP Reverse Grid Race took place at Zandvoort following a chaotic Qualifying session. Wild Card Zoe Florescu failed a post-session technical check and was disqualified. Her car carried engine lubricant that did not meet the required specifications.
Westcott started from reverse grid pole alongside Bruce on the front row. Robertson and Gademan occupied the second row, as Felbermayr, Granada, Larsen, and Palmowski completed the reversed top eight. From ninth onwards, drivers lined up in their revised Qualifying order, with Jacquet leading that group ahead of Kosterman.
After causing a red flag in Qualifying, Ferreira started the race from the back of the grid. However, having claimed pole, Palmowski headed into the race leading the Drivers’ Championship by 30 points.
Lights out for the 2026 F1 Academy Dutch GP Reverse Grid Race
Westcott made a strong start from reverse grid pole and led into Turn 1. Gademan dived down the inside of Robertson to move up to third on the opening lap. Further back, Robertson and Larsen also went around the outside of drivers ahead.
Misfortunes struck for Palmowski, who stalled on the grid. The championship leader dropped to the back of the field, with Paatz also stalling alongside her. Both drivers eventually got going again but found themselves at the back of the pack.
Out in front, Gademan closed on Bruce in second and swept around the outside to take the position. Behind the pair, Robertson held her position in third. Having made a move, Granada lost control of her car and found at the barrier. The Spanish driver’s crash brought out the first safety car of the race.
First safety car deployed for Granada
The safety car period brought the field back together. Westcott held the lead, with Gademan second and Robertson third. Felbermayr moved ahead of Bruce after the restart, with Larsen also getting past Bruce as the TAG Heuer driver plummeted down the field. With the field now bunched up, Palmowski sat at the back of the pack but had plenty of laps remaining to work her way forward into the points.
When racing resumed, Westcott led comfortably with a gap of over three seconds to Gademan. Robertson held third, with Larsen posting the fastest lap of the race and closing in on the podium.
Larsen got around the outside of Robertson at Turn 1 to take third. Behind them, Bruce was forced to defended from a hard-charging Lloyd. Jacquet sat just outside the points with Billard closing in, while Palmowski continued to work her back through the pack but remained well off the points.
Jacquet brings out a second safety car
A trip through the gravel traps for Jacquet saw her bring out the second safety car of the race. As racing quickly resumed, Palmowski passed Stevens during the period, making small gains through the pack.
At the restart, Larsen made an immediate move around the outside at Turn 1 and got past Gademan to take second. She sat right on the back of Westcott, though a question remained over whether she had overtaken before the timing line, which the stewards would need to review. Further back, Felbermayr made contact with Kosterman and dropped to eighth as Lloyd jumped to sixth.
Westcott responded to Larsen’s challenge by dipping into the 1:38s and extending her gap to six tenths of a second. Behind her, Gademan and Kosterman went side by side, both pushing hard to finish on the podium at their home race.
Westcott wins the 2026 F1 Academy Dutch GP Reverse Grid Race
Westcott held Larsen at bay in the closing laps to claim victory in the F1 Academy Dutch GP Reverse Grid Race, leading from start to finish. Larsen crossed the line in second, her best result of the season. Gademan took third, completing a strong home race for the Dutch driver.
Further back, Felbermayr received a five-second time penalty for her contact with Robertson. The penalty dropped her out of the points, which in turn promoted Dobson into the top eight.
Lloyd made a late move on Robertson to take fifth, having fought her way up from eleventh on the grid despite the wet tyre disadvantage from qualifying. Robertson held on behind Lloyd, though Felbermayr’s penalty shuffled the final order. Meanwhile, Kosterman finished fourth, narrowly missing the podium at her home race.
