Palmowski leads the pack on opening day of F1 Academy in-season testing in Zandvoort

The first day of the F1 Academy in-season test in Zandvoort concluded with Red Bull Racing's Alisha Palmowski claiming the fastest time overall, her late afternoon surge proving decisive in establishing her credentials as the driver to watch.
Photo Credit: Red Bull Content Pool
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The first day of the F1 Academy in-season test in Zandvoort concluded with Red Bull Racing’s Alisha Palmowski claiming the fastest time overall, her late afternoon surge proving decisive in establishing her credentials as the driver to watch.

The British driver’s commanding lap of 1:38.074, set in the dying moments of the afternoon session, edged out Ferrari’s Maya Weug by just 0.087 seconds to secure top honours. It marked a strong statement from Palmowski, who recovered brilliantly from a moment at Turn 9 that briefly brought out red flags to deliver when it mattered most.

Campos Racing dominated the morning proceedings with a clean sweep of the top positions. Chloe Chambers led the charge for the Spanish outfit, setting the benchmark at 1:39.364 after a compelling battle with Weug that saw the pair exchange the fastest times repeatedly throughout the session.

Morning session action

The opening hours began quietly, with Nicole Havrda and her Hitech teammate Aiva Anagnostiadis amongst the first to post representative times. Tommy Hilfiger’s Alba Larsen kickstarted meaningful activity during the second hour, her 1:43.420 providing the initial target for others to chase.

As the session progressed, Maya Weug emerged as the early pace-setter, capitalising on clear track conditions to post a formidable 1:40.939. Palmowski responded immediately, slotting into second position mere thousandths behind before taking the lead herself with a 1:40.679.

The benchmark continued to tumble as drivers found their rhythm on the Dutch circuit. Doriane Pin and Chloe Chong both enjoyed spells at the top before McLaren’s Ella Lloyd raised the bar significantly with a 1:40.329, subsequently improving by another tenth.

Chambers’ intervention proved decisive, becoming the first driver to breach the 1:40 barrier before extending her advantage with a superb 1:39.713 – more than half a second clear of her nearest rival. Weug mounted a spirited response, clocking 1:39.711 to close within two thousandths, but Chambers had the final word with her session-topping 1:39.364.

An unfortunate spin for Anagnostiadis at Turn 2 brought proceedings to a premature close, cementing Chambers’ position at the summit ahead of Weug and Aurelia Nobels, who claimed third with a late improvement.

Afternoon session

The afternoon session witnessed even more intense competition, with lap times tumbling further as teams maximised their testing programmes. Nobels set the early pace at 1:40.843 before Pin took control, becoming the first to crack the 1:38 barrier with an impressive 1:38.708.

Pin’s advantage appeared insurmountable for over an hour, her pace comfortably clear of the chasing pack. However, the final 45 minutes delivered thrilling action as multiple drivers found significant improvements.

Despite two red flag interruptions caused by separate incidents involving Nobels and Courtney Crone at Turn 7, the session’s climax provided spectacular entertainment. Weug leaped to the top with 1:38.567, only for Chambers to respond immediately and reclaim the lead.

The pair continued their fascinating duel, with Chambers appearing to have secured the day’s fastest time at 1:38.305. However, Palmowski had other ideas, shaking off her earlier moment to produce a stunning final effort of 1:38.074 with just nine minutes remaining.

Championship implications

The opening day’s results suggest a highly competitive testing phase ahead, with multiple teams demonstrating race-winning pace. Palmowski’s late heroics underscore Red Bull Racing’s continued competitiveness, whilst Campos Racing’s morning dominance through Chambers hints at their strong development trajectory.

Weug’s consistent pace across both sessions reinforces Ferrari’s championship credentials, finishing second overall despite missing out on the ultimate benchmark. The Italian team will undoubtedly take encouragement from their driver’s ability to challenge for top honours throughout the day.

With Lloyd, Rafaela Ferreira and Pin all featuring prominently in the final classification, the competitive landscape appears more open than ever. The remaining testing days promise to provide further insight into each team’s true potential ahead of the championship’s resumption.

The F1 Academy Zandvoort test continues tomorrow as teams seek to maximise their preparation time at the historic Dutch venue, with all eyes on whether Palmowski can maintain her early advantage or if the chasing pack can close the gap.