MP Motorsport teammates Nina Gademan and Alba Larsen secured their third consecutive double podium during Friday’s 2026 F1 Academy Opening Race at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA). However, their impressive result followed an intense battle for second place, with both drivers offering contrasting perspectives on a controversial overtake and subsequent position swap.
Gademan ultimately finished second behind race winner Alisha Palmowski, while Larsen completed the podium in third. The result marked Gademan’s fourth podium in five races and extended Larsen’s remarkable turnaround to three consecutive podium finishes after the Ferrari-backed driver failed to reach the rostrum in her first 21 F1 Academy starts.
Nevertheless, their battle remained a major talking point following the race, particularly after officials instructed Larsen to relinquish second place for gaining an advantage beyond track limits. While Gademan considered the eventual outcome fair, her teammate questioned the decision and the timing of the instruction.
Gademan reflects on difficult restart and battle with Larsen
The battle between the MP Motorsport teammates intensified following the first Safety Car restart on Lap 4, when Larsen capitalised on a difficult getaway from Gademan to move into second place.
However, the Ferrari-backed driver exceeded track limits while completing the overtake, prompting an investigation into whether she had gained an advantage by leaving the circuit. Although Larsen initially retained the position, officials eventually instructed her to return it to Gademan.
Reflecting on the incident, the Alpine-backed driver acknowledged that her own mistake had created the opportunity for Larsen to attack.
“My Safety Car restart was not the greatest,” Gademan explained. “I had some wheelspin and didn’t have a good launch, so Alba went for the move and overtook me off track and had to give the position back.
“Then we had a pretty tough fight, but I think it was fair in the end. It was a good fight, though. It was fun looking ahead and into my mirrors the whole time!”
Despite the intensity of their battle, Gademan appeared satisfied with the outcome, particularly after successfully defending second place during the final-lap restart.
Larsen questions stewards’ decision and delayed instruction
Larsen offered a different perspective on the incident, expressing uncertainty over whether the stewards had made the correct decision.
Having moved ahead of Gademan during the first Safety Car restart, the Danish driver spent much of the race running second and attempting to close the gap to Palmowski. However, the instruction to return the position arrived during the second Safety Car period, leaving her with little time to recover.
Although Larsen complied, she felt the circumstances surrounding the original overtake warranted another look.
“I was told to give that position back, but I got the message very late,” Larsen reflected. “So I only had one lap, which made it very difficult for me to overtake and get the position back.
She continued, “I was trying everywhere. I have to rewatch it, but I’m not sure I agree with the decision. I feel like I got pushed wide, but obviously I need to rewatch it.”
Her comments highlighted the differing interpretations of their on-track battle. While Gademan believed Larsen had completed the overtake outside track limits, Larsen suggested that she had been forced wide during the manoeuvre.
Nevertheless, the Ferrari driver accepted the instruction and immediately focused on reclaiming second place.
Larsen takes positives despite missing out on second place
When racing resumed for the final lap, Larsen returned second place to Gademan before launching another attack on her teammate.
The pair battled closely throughout the remaining corners, with Gademan successfully defending her position to secure second place. Larsen eventually crossed the line third, completing MP Motorsport’s double podium in the Austin Opening Race.
Despite her disappointment over the position swap, Larsen remained encouraged by her performance and the competitiveness of her car.
“I did what was right, which was giving the position back, and I did my best to try and get back into second,” Larsen said. “But it was a really strong race. The pace was there, the car was feeling really great, I was on the move, so I’m excited to do it again tomorrow and on Sunday.”
The result extended Larsen’s podium streak to three races following her breakthrough at Zandvoort, where she claimed consecutive second-place finishes.
Her double podium at the Dutch GP had already demonstrated a considerable improvement in form, and her Austin performance provided further evidence of the progress she has made during the second half of the championship.
Gademan highlights significant improvement since Zandvoort
Beyond the battle between the teammates, Gademan believes MP Motorsport has made important progress since the previous round at Zandvoort.
Although the Dutch driver secured two podium finishes on home soil, she struggled to match the pace of the leading contenders throughout the weekend. Palmowski and Larsen proved particularly competitive, leaving Gademan unable to challenge for victory despite her strong results.
However, the Alpine driver found herself considerably closer to Palmowski during Friday’s Austin race, suggesting the team had made gains in its overall performance.
“I think it was a big step compared to Zandvoort, where we basically could not keep up with them at all,” she said. “There was something like an eight-second gap in Zandvoort, and now I managed to stay with them quite well.
“I’m still not strong enough to fight for the win, but I could keep up with them, which is already a big step.”
Gademan’s comments reflected the progress she has made since her double podium at the 2026 Dutch GP.
Her latest result also strengthened MP Motorsport’s position in the Teams’ Championship, with the Dutch outfit moving ahead of Rodin Motorsport into second following Friday’s race.
Gademan believes maiden victory remains achievable in Austin
Although Gademan acknowledged that Palmowski remained slightly quicker, she believes greater consistency could allow her to challenge the championship leader during the remaining Austin races.
The Dutch driver explained that small errors, rather than a substantial deficit in outright pace, had prevented her from remaining closer to the Red Bull Racing driver throughout Friday’s contest.
Furthermore, her proximity to the fastest lap suggested that MP Motorsport already possesses much of the performance needed to compete for victory.
“I made a couple of mistakes during a lap, where I really opened the gap, not necessarily because of the pace itself,” Gademan explained. “We’re only half a tenth from the fastest lap, so I think I can be strong. We just need to put it all together.
“If I can fine-tune things, I’m pretty sure we can at least challenge Alisha for the win this weekend.”
The ambition represents another step forward for Gademan, whose recent consistency has established her among the championship’s leading contenders.
However, converting that pace into a first victory of the season remains her immediate objective, with Saturday’s Reverse Grid Race and Sunday’s Feature Race providing two further opportunities.
Gademan targets second in the F1 Academy Drivers’ Championship
Alongside her ambitions for a race victory, Gademan has also set her sights on overtaking Emma Felbermayr for second in the 2026 F1 Academy Drivers’ Championship.
Following Friday’s race, Gademan sits third with 89 points, nine behind Felbermayr, who recovered from eleventh on the grid to finish fifth.
The Dutch driver’s second-place finish added 18 points to her championship total, significantly reducing the deficit to the Austrian and strengthening her position ahead of the final two races in Austin.
Having established a consistent run of podium finishes, Gademan hopes to gain enough points during the remainder of the weekend to secure a stronger championship position before the season finale in Las Vegas.
“I want to leave the weekend in P2 of the Standings, no doubt,” she said. “I want to secure enough points to be safe for Vegas, so I can take risks!”
The battle for second has become increasingly competitive as Palmowski extends her lead at the top. Nevertheless, Gademan’s recent performances suggest she could maintain the pressure on Felbermayr during the remaining races.
Larsen targets further podiums after breakthrough run
Larsen also enters the remainder of the Austin weekend with considerable confidence following her third consecutive podium.
The Ferrari-backed driver endured a difficult opening half of the championship, failing to secure a podium across her first 21 starts. However, her performances at Zandvoort marked a turning point, with consecutive runner-up finishes helping her climb into the championship’s top four.
Her latest result strengthens that position, taking her to 66 points and increasing her advantage over Payton Westcott in fifth.
Despite the disappointment of losing second place to Gademan, Larsen believes her pace provides a strong foundation for the remaining two races.
The Danish driver also offered a light-hearted assessment of her expectations, joking that she had already prepared for more podium celebrations than her equipment might accommodate.
“It’s a bit annoying. I only have one suit because I’m expecting three podiums, but we’ll see what happens tomorrow,” she joked. “I felt really good in the car, and I think I can do it again tomorrow.”
Larsen will start fourth in Saturday’s Reverse Grid Race, placing her in a promising position to challenge for another podium and potentially her maiden F1 Academy victory.
MP Motorsport looks to maintain podium momentum in Austin
Despite the disagreement surrounding Friday’s on-track battle, MP Motorsport emerged from the Opening Race with another significant result.
Gademan’s second place and Larsen’s third secured the team’s third consecutive double podium, while Esmee Kosterman added valuable points with an eighth-place finish.
Consequently, the Dutch outfit moved into second in the 2026 Teams’ Championship standings, strengthening its position ahead of Rodin Motorsport.
For Gademan, the focus now turns towards improving her consistency, challenging Palmowski for victory and moving ahead of Felbermayr in the Drivers’ Championship. Meanwhile, Larsen hopes to build on her remarkable turnaround and extend her podium streak across the remaining Austin races.
Although their battle for second created tension on Friday, both drivers remain confident in MP Motorsport’s pace and their ability to challenge at the front.
With two races remaining at COTA, the teammates have further opportunities to convert their recent improvements into strong results before the championship heads to Las Vegas for its final round.
