Red Bull Racing-backed Alisha Palmowski described a “rollercoaster of emotions” after securing a dramatic double pole position during qualifying for the 2026 F1 Academy United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA). The championship leader initially lost her fastest lap to a track limits infringement before having it reinstated, allowing her to retain pole position for both the Opening Race and Feature Race.
Palmowski recorded a 2:07.714 on her final qualifying attempt, beating Mercedes-backed Payton Westcott by just 0.098 seconds. The result marked her fifth and sixth pole positions of the campaign and strengthened her prospects of securing the Drivers’ Championship before the season finale in Las Vegas.
However, the 20-year-old admitted that the final moments of qualifying had been particularly stressful, with Westcott’s late improvement forcing her to deliver one final competitive lap before the subsequent track limits decision briefly threatened her achievement.
Palmowski recovers pole from Westcott in dramatic final minutes
Palmowski entered Thursday’s qualifying session holding a commanding 48-point advantage over Audi-backed Emma Felbermayr in the Drivers’ Championship. Having secured four victories during the opening four rounds, the Campos Racing driver arrived in Austin with an opportunity to become F1 Academy’s fourth champion.
The British driver immediately demonstrated her qualifying pace, setting the early benchmark before improving throughout the 30-minute session. She recorded a 2:08.337 midway through qualifying and subsequently lowered her time to 2:07.955.
However, Westcott produced an exceptional late improvement. The American recorded a 2:07.812 with approximately two minutes remaining, moving 0.143 seconds ahead and placing Palmowski under pressure.
With only one opportunity remaining, Palmowski responded with a 2:07.714 to reclaim the lead by 0.098 seconds.
The closely contested qualifying session appeared to have concluded in her favour, but officials subsequently deleted her fastest lap for an alleged track limits infringement at Turn 20.
Reflecting on the dramatic sequence while speaking to F1 Academy, Palmowski admitted that her emotions had changed considerably within minutes.
“My heart rate hasn’t recovered yet,” she began. “What a rollercoaster of emotions, honestly. It was already stressful because Payton Westcott actually took provisional pole position off me with about two minutes to go.”
Palmowski recalls emotional reaction to deleted lap
Although Palmowski successfully reclaimed pole position on her final qualifying attempt, the celebrations were interrupted when her engineer informed her that the lap had been deleted.
The stewards initially determined that she had exceeded track limits at Turn 20, which would have left Westcott on pole position for both the Opening Race and Feature Race.
The decision was particularly frustrating for Palmowski, who believed that she had remained within the permitted limits. Although she acknowledged the limitations of her viewpoint from inside the cockpit, she questioned the decision before returning to the garage.
“So I had one lap to try to regain to that pole position, which I did successfully do. I got the news that I was on pole position, I celebrated and then my engineer told me that we lost the lap due to track limits at Turn 20.”
The situation subsequently changed when officials reviewed the infringement and reinstated her fastest lap, restoring her position at the top of the classification.
Palmowski described the relief of learning that her qualifying result would stand after initially believing she had lost both pole positions.
“I was quite adamant that I hadn’t done it. Obviously, I appreciate I have a different field of vision to what the cameras do, although I was quite sure I hadn’t done it, so I voiced my opinion. I came back to the garage, and five minutes later got the news that the lap had been reinstated, so what a whirlwind. I went from being on top of the world to the bottom of the world, back on top of the world.”
Final qualifying lap brings unprecedented pressure
Palmowski admitted that Westcott’s late improvement had forced her into one of the most stressful moments of her season.
Although the championship leader had demonstrated strong pace throughout the session, she initially focused on recording two competitive laps rather than risking mistakes in pursuit of the fastest possible time.
The three-race format introduced for Austin and Montreal requires drivers to produce two strong qualifying laps, with their fastest determining the Feature Race starting order and their second-fastest establishing the Opening Race grid.
Palmowski had consequently approached much of the session cautiously, aware that a mistake or track limits infringement could compromise her starting positions.
However, Westcott’s improvement forced her to abandon that approach and push closer to the limit.
“The final lap was the most stressed I have felt all season,” admitted Palmowski. “Because Qualifying was so strong up until that point and then Payton put in a really really strong lap in that second stint, so that put a lot more pressure on me. I knew that we needed two laps in Qualifying as well, so I was sort of driving at 90/95%, knowing I couldn’t get any track limits or make a mistake.
“That forced me to really put everything on the line and up my game, so I really did give it everything on that last lap. I had a little slide at Turn 20 but managed to still get pole by just a tenth, I think, which is very close around this track, especially with how long it is. Happy days.”
Second double pole strengthens Palmowski’s title challenge
Palmowski’s qualifying performance represented another significant achievement in an increasingly successful 2026 campaign.
The Austin result marked her second double pole position of the season, following a similarly strong performance during the expanded Montreal weekend.
In Canada, the Red Bull Racing-backed driver secured pole for both the Opening Race and Feature Race, demonstrating her ability to produce consecutive competitive laps under the championship’s revised qualifying format.
She subsequently converted that advantage into important championship points, helping establish the momentum that has carried her into the final two rounds.
Palmowski arrived in Austin leading the standings on 136 points, with Felbermayr second on 88 and Nina Gademan third on 71.
Her advantage increased significantly at Zandvoort, where she secured the Feature Race victory and collected the maximum available points to extend the gap to Felbermayr from 30 to 48.
With the championship leader now starting from pole in both full-points races at Austin, she has placed herself in a strong position to consolidate that advantage.
However, the three-race weekend still presents considerable uncertainty, particularly with several drivers capable of challenging for victory.
Palmowski remains focused on victories despite championship advantage
Although Palmowski understands the championship implications of her qualifying performance, she insists that her motivation extends beyond simply protecting her points advantage.
The British driver has demonstrated strong consistency throughout 2026, combining qualifying pace with competitive race performances to establish herself as the leading title contender.
However, her reaction to the temporary loss of pole position demonstrated how determined she remains to secure individual victories.
Palmowski admitted that she had been particularly frustrated when officials initially deleted her fastest lap, despite knowing that second place would still have provided a competitive starting position and maintained her championship advantage.
“It’s funny, I even tell myself that I know what my job is this weekend,” she noted. “I know what I need to do. But the anger I felt when I thought I lost my lap I would have still been P2, but I was genuinely gutted. I still want to win. I still want to get the pole positions, win the races.”
Her comments reflect the approach that has contributed to her championship lead. Rather than simply managing her advantage over Felbermayr, Palmowski remains determined to maximise her performances throughout the remaining races.
The two additional pole positions also reinforce her strength over a single lap, although converting those starting positions into victories will require continued consistency.
Westcott presents strong challenge at home race
Despite securing both pole positions, Palmowski acknowledged that Westcott could pose a significant challenge during the Austin weekend.
The Mercedes-backed American demonstrated impressive pace throughout qualifying, coming within one tenth of the championship leader on her home circuit.
Westcott also arrives with momentum following her maiden F1 Academy victory at Zandvoort, where she converted reverse-grid pole position into victory and strengthened her position in the championship standings.
Her performance in Austin qualifying suggests that she could challenge Palmowski for victory, particularly given the narrow margin separating the leading two drivers.
Gademan will start third in both the Opening Race and Feature Race, while Felbermayr faces a more difficult task after qualifying ninth for Sunday’s contest.
Although Palmowski has established a considerable advantage in the title battle, she recognises that the unfamiliar circuit and competitive field leave little room for complacency.
“It’s very much the unknown tomorrow. It’s still a very new track to me, so still just learning with every lap that I do. Payton is very fast, so I will have my hands full, with Payton definitely. But equally, my title rivals are behind me as well, so I know where my fight is, having said that. We just want to keep learning in the Opening Race, in the Reverse Grid Race and the Feature Race is full send.”
Palmowski could secure F1 Academy title before Las Vegas
Palmowski’s double pole comes at a decisive point in the 2026 championship, with the Austin weekend providing her first opportunity to secure the Drivers’ title.
The expanded three-race programme means that a maximum of 65 points is available across the United States Grand Prix weekend, including the Feature Race pole position bonus.
With Felbermayr trailing by 48 points before the weekend, Palmowski has several potential routes to securing the championship before the season finale.
The title permutations entering Austin mean that a lead of at least 68 points after Saturday’s Reverse Grid Race would mathematically secure the title. Alternatively, a margin of at least 40 points following Sunday’s Feature Race would guarantee the championship regardless of the results in Las Vegas.
Her qualifying performance has strengthened those prospects, particularly as Felbermayr will start the Feature Race from ninth.
However, Palmowski remains aware that the competitive nature of the field could influence the outcome. Westcott has already demonstrated her pace, while Gademan and several other drivers will also be seeking strong results.
With two pole positions secured, Palmowski has established an encouraging starting point. Nevertheless, the championship leader remains determined to approach the weekend competitively rather than simply defend her advantage.
Double pole provides ideal start to decisive Austin weekend
Palmowski’s performance in Austin qualifying demonstrated both her outright pace and ability to respond under pressure.
Having led much of the session, the British driver faced a late challenge from Westcott before producing her fastest lap when it mattered most. The subsequent track limits controversy briefly threatened to overturn the result, but its resolution ultimately restored her place at the front of the field.
Her fifth and sixth pole positions of 2026 reinforce her position as the championship’s leading qualifier, while also providing a significant advantage heading into the two full-points races.
Nevertheless, Palmowski’s comments highlight that her focus remains on delivering competitive performances rather than simply protecting her championship lead.
With Westcott alongside her on the front row and Gademan immediately behind, the Opening Race presents another challenge. Saturday’s Reverse Grid Race will require a different approach, while Sunday’s Feature Race offers a further opportunity to strengthen her position in the title battle.
The championship leader now has the opportunity to convert her qualifying success into the results required to become F1 Academy’s fourth Drivers’ Champion.
However, after experiencing what she described as a rollercoaster of emotions during qualifying, Palmowski remains determined to approach the remaining races with the same ambition that has defined her championship campaign.
