Mathilda Paatz claims maiden F1 Academy victory after dramatic reverse-grid race in Montreal

Mathilda Paatz secured her maiden F1 Academy victory in a dramatic reverse-grid race, just hours after her first podium and following a jump start heartbreak for Rafaela Ferreira who had led throughout the race. Alba Larsen and Kaylee Countryman claimed their first series podiums.

Photo credits: F1 Academy Ltd

Mathilda Paatz secured her maiden F1 Academy victory in a dramatic and chaotic reverse-grid race, inheriting the win after Rafaela Ferreira received a five-second penalty for a jump start, while Alba Larsen and Kaylee Countryman claimed their first series podiums in the series after breakthrough performances.

Reverse-grid races have consistently delivered some of the most entertaining contests in F1 Academy, creating opportunities for drivers to battle at the front - and the second race of the weekend once again produced action from lights out to the chequered flag.

Earlier in the day, Alisha Palmowski had converted her qualifying pace into a commanding lights-to-flag victory in the opening race of the Montreal triple-header, securing her first win of the 2026 F1 Academy season and taking over the championship lead. The Red Bull-backed British driver was untouchable, winning by a record 10.1-second margin, ahead of rookies Megan Bruce and Mathilda Paatz, both claiming their maiden F1 Academy podiums.

Kaylee Countryman secured her first point finish in the series, setting the stage for an exciting reverse-grid second race later in the evening where she would start from pole position alongside Rafaela Ferreira, who has taken over third in the standings after a run to fourth.

The TGR Haas F1 Team driver lined up on pole position for the first time in her career, but it was Rafaela Ferreira who made the quickest launch from second on the grid, immediately snatching the lead into Turn 1. Countryman managed to retain second place despite the early pressure from Mathilda Paatz and Alba Larsen directly behind. Ferreira locked up heavily only a few corners later but successfully defended the lead as Paatz immediately began applying pressure to Countryman for second.

Further down the order, Emma Felbermayr’s difficult weekend took another hit when she was tagged into a spin following contact with Larsen; for the second time during the weekend, the Austrian was forced into a recovery drive from the back of the field.

There was also immediate drama for Ava Dobson, who had already endured misfortune in Race 1. This time the American was involved in contact with Autumn Fisher and crashed into the wall at Turn 9. Rachel Robertson was also hit at the final corner in a separate incident, prompting an immediate Safety Car deployment as marshals attended to the two damaged cars.

Autumn Fisher pitted for a new front wing but was able to continue while under neutralization. Ferreira led Countryman, Paatz, Payton Westcott and Larsen, as the field circulated through the pit lane while Robertson’s car was recovered from the main straight.

Race 1 winner and new championship leader Alisha Palmowski had already made progress from eighth on the grid up to sixth place in the opening laps, while Ella Lloyd was also moving forward, climbing from 16th to 12th before the restart.

However, Ferreira’s start - which initially appeared perfectly timed - soon came under investigation for a potential jump start by the smallest margin, placing the race leader under pressure despite her strong pace at the front.

The race resumed at the end of lap six and Ferreira executed another excellent restart, immediately attempting to break away. Behind her, battles erupted throughout the field: Lisa Billard and Natalia Granada traded positions repeatedly through the opening corners, while Jade Jacquet and Ella Lloyd went wheel-to-wheel in another fierce fight further back.

More drama unfolded as Palmowski nearly ran into the back of Alba Larsen at the hairpin when the tightly-packed field concertinaed. The Red Bull-supported driver took avoiding action by cutting across the grass, dropping behind Megan Bruce to seventh position.

At the front, Ferreira continued to lead while under investigation, but Countryman and Paatz remained in her slipstream, with the top three separated by only a few tenths of a second. Palmowski’s pace remained highly competitive despite her earlier off-track moment, and on lap nine she attacked Megan Bruce to reclaim sixth position.

Ella Stevens meanwhile was handed a stop-and-go penalty for being out of position on the formation lap, while Jade Jacquet also received a penalty for speeding in the pit lane.

Lisa Billard moved into tenth place and set the fastest lap of the race with a 1:39.622 as she attempted to close back in on Granada, before Ella Lloyd lowered the benchmark further with a 1:39.587. Despite the race progressing, the entire field remained tightly bunched from front to back.

Ferreira was holding on well at the front, but both Countryman and Paatz remained within half a second; the German driver then made a decisive move after a strong exit from the hairpin, pulling alongside Countryman and completing what turned out to be a crucial overtake for second place into the final chicane.

The race took another dramatic turn on lap 12: Palmowski attempted to find a gap as Larsen and Westcott battled ahead at turn 1, but contact instead followed between the championship leader and teammate Megan Bruce. Palmowski was pitched sideways, and Nina Gademan - with nowhere to go - was collected and sent into the wall in an unfortunate incident that triggered the second Safety Car period of the race.

Palmowski dropped all the way to 14th place but was able to rejoin the back of the field under caution, while Ella Stevens also caught back up after serving her stop-and-go penalty. Just before the neutralization, Larsen had successfully overtaken Westcott for fourth place.

As the race approached the 30-minute time limit, officials confirmed it would become a timed race, leaving only one final lap after the restart once the clock expired.

Ferreira again delivered a superb restart and initially appeared to have done enough to secure victory on the road, but Paatz remained aggressive directly behind as battles erupted throughout the pack one final time. Natalia Granada climbed to sixth ahead of Lisa Billard, while Alba Larsen launched an attack on Countryman at the hairpin. The two drag-raced through the final chicane, with Larsen completing the move in spectacular fashion to snatch third on the road.

Although Ferreira crossed the finish line first, the Brazilian was handed a five-second penalty for the jump start and ultimately dropped her down the classification, securing Mathilda Paatz her first-ever F1 Academy victory - coming only hours after claiming her maiden podium in the series. It also marked the first victory for Aston Martin in the championship.

Photo credits: F1 Academy Ltd

Alba Larsen’s superb final-corner overtake secured second place and her long-awaited first F1 Academy podium after repeatedly coming close. Kaylee Countryman nevertheless completed an excellent race to finish third, backing up her first points finish with her maiden podium result in the category.

Payton Westcott finished fourth ahead of Natalia Granada in fifth, in another outstanding result for the Spaniard after her impressive debut in Shanghai. Lisa Billard took sixth place, while Ella Lloyd finished seventh and collected the additional point for the fastest lap.

Emma Felbermayr recovered impressively from her early incident to salvage eighth place and one championship point. Megan Bruce crossed the line ninth, while Rafaela Ferreira’s costly penalty dropped her to tenth despite leading virtually the entire race.

Esmee Kosterman produced a strong recovery from the back of the grid to finish 11th ahead of Alisha Palmowski in 12th. Autumn Fisher was classified 13th after her earlier front-wing damage, while Jade Jacquet fell from seventh to 14th following her pit lane speeding penalty. Ella Stevens rounded out the classified runners after a difficult race that also included a second penalty for speeding in the pit lane.

Despite the chaotic race, Palmowski retained the championship lead ahead of Felbermayr and the now third-placed Paatz in the standings.

With four races completed, F1 Academy has now produced four different winners in 2025, and with a third race scheduled for Sunday, the championship’s close competition is expected to continue to deliver intense action. The Feature Race, that will see Alisha Palmowski lining up alongside Payton Westcott, will go green at 10:45 local time.