Alisha Palmowski opened the F1 Academy programme at the Canadian Grand Prix with a commanding victory in Montreal. The Campos driver controlled the 17-lap Opening Race and crossed the line 10.1 seconds clear of teammate Megan Bruce.
Mathilda Paatz completed the podium for Prema after a penalty for a rival ahead reshuffled the order. The race ran green throughout with no Safety Car intervention despite a series of midfield skirmishes.
Campos locked out the top two, with Rafaela Ferreira adding fourth place to underline the team’s speed. Alba Larsen led MP Motorsport’s charge in fifth, followed by Rodin’s Ella Lloyd in sixth. ART Grand Prix’s Kaylee Countryman took seventh, with Rodin pair Ella Stevens (eighth) and Emma Felbermayr (10th) flanking MP Motorsport’s Nina Gademann in ninth to round out the top 10.
Further back, Hitech’s Rachel Robertson headed teammate Autumn Fisher (WCD) in 11th and 12th, with ART Grand Prix’s Jade Jacquet 13th. Prema’s Natalia Granada was 14th ahead of ART Grand Prix’s Lisa Billard, while Payton Wescott classified 16th for Prema. Hitech’s Ava Dobson finished 17th, and Esmee Kostermann was the only driver to be lapped in 18th for MP Motorsport.
F1 Academy Opening Race results – Canadian GP (Montreal):
1. Alisha Palmowski (Campos) 28:18.995 2. Megan Bruce (Campos) +10.1 3. Mathilda Paatz (Prema) +10.8 4. Rafaela Ferreira (Campos) +12.1 5. Alba Larsen (MP Motorsport) +12.5 6. Ella Lloyd (Rodin) +20.4 7. Kaylee Countryman (ART Grand Prix) +21.2 8. Ella Stevens (Rodin) +22.1 9. Nina Gademann (MP Motorsport) +22.3 10. Emma Felbermayr (Rodin) +22.5 11. Rachel Robertson (Hitech) +26.2 12. Autumn Fisher (WCD) (Hitech) +30.2 13. Jade Jacquet (ART Grand Prix) +30.6 14. Natalia Granada (Prema) +39.3 15. Lisa Billard (ART Grand Prix) +57.6 16. Payton Wescott (Prema) +68.3 17. Ava Dobson (Hitech) +94.4 18. Esmee Kostermann (MP Motorsport) +1 Lap
What’s next: Two more F1 Academy races remain on the Canadian Grand Prix bill in Montreal, offering further chances for teams and drivers to build on early momentum.
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*Originally published on [News Formula One](https://newsformula.one/article/palmowski-wins-f1-academy-opener-at-2026-canadian-gp). Visit for full coverage.*
