Palmowski tops Montreal practice as F1 Academy returns for triple-header weekend

Alisha Palmowski emerged fastest in a rapidly evolving sole practice session around the fast and unforgiving Montreal circuit, ahead of championship leader Emma Felbermayr and rookies Megan Bruce and Lisa Billard.

Photo credits: Red Bull Content Pool

After a 69-day break following the season opener in Shanghai, the 2026 F1 Academy campaign finally resumed at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve for the second round of the season, with Alisha Palmowski emerging fastest in a rapidly evolving sole practice session around the fast and unforgiving Canadian street circuit.

The championship returned to Montreal for the second consecutive season, on a circuit that produced memorable racing in 2025, including victories for Doriane Pin and Chloe Chambers, while current championship leader Emma Felbermayr secured her maiden F1 Academy and single-seater victory in the reverse-grid race at the venue last year.

Felbermayr arrived in Canada leading the standings after a highly successful opening weekend in Shanghai, where the Audi-backed driver claimed a podium and her second career victory in the category. Palmowski, representing the Red Bull Racing programme, sat second in the standings after taking pole position, fastest lap and a runner-up finish in China, and entered Montreal aiming to convert her strong pace into her first win of the year.

The 2026 calendar had originally included a second round in Saudi Arabia, but the event was cancelled due to the American war of aggression in Iran. To compensate for the lost track time, the series added extra races to both the Montreal and Austin weekends, turning the Canadian round into a triple-header event.

Under the revised format, qualifying would therefore determine the grids for all three races: Race 1 would be set by each driver’s second-fastest qualifying lap, Race 2 would remain the reverse-grid contest, while Race 3 would use the fastest laps from qualifying, which also awards two championship points.

Montreal also marked the debut of Canadian Wild Card entry Autumn Fisher, competing on home soil in the #77 Tatuus machine operated by Hitech Grand Prix with backing from series wealth management partner Standard Chartered.

The championship had meawnhile conducted in-season testing at Silverstone, where home racers Ella Lloyd and Palmowski topped the timing sheets across the two days.

With only one 40-minute practice session before qualifying later in the day at Montreal, drivers immediately headed out to learn the demanding Canadian track, especially important for the many rookies and drivers competing at the venue for the first time.

There was a brief delay early in the session for Esmee Kosterman, though the MP Motorsport-operated LEGO-liveried car eventually made it to the circuit soon after.

Lloyd initially recorded the benchmark lap with a 1:42.9, while Nina Gademan and Emma Felbermayr soon joined the early frontrunners.

There was also an early scare for Jade Jacquet, as the Williams-supported driver who has also been racing in the French F4 Championship this season spun and briefly visited the grass but avoided damage and continued.

Gademan steadily improved through all three sectors to set a 1:42.220 before becoming the first driver under the 1:42 barrier with a 1:41.876. Felbermayr meanwhile looked set for an even quicker lap after producing purple sectors in sectors one and two, but lost time in the final sector and remained fourth.

Palmowski briefly became only the second driver below 1:42 before she was immediately displaced by rookie Megan Bruce, though both were topped by around three tenths by Gademan.

Track conditions were especially difficult in the early stages, with the dusty and green surface offering very little grip compared to permanent circuits used year-round. Drivers thus continued searching for confidence and traction as the session evolved.

Palmowski then set the fastest first sector but ran deep and through the grass, forcing her to abandon the lap. Felbermayr then moved to the top with a 1:41.362, edging Alba Larsen by just one hundredth of a second as both drivers found significant improvements. Rafaela Ferreira climbed to third.

As track evolution accelerated, lap times rapidly tumbled: Larsen responded with a 1:41.038 to reclaim P1 ahead of Lisa Billard, while Felbermayr spun during her own improving run.

Larsen then became the first driver into the 1:40s with a 1:40.9, only for Palmowski to immediately go half a second quicker with a 1:40.409.

The rookies continued to impress as Bruce climbed to third and Rachel Robertson moved into fourth entering the final 15 minutes.

Palmowski’s next effort then proved even more impressive: the Red Bull-backed driver produced purple sectors in sectors two and three to lower the benchmark to 1:39.894. Felbermayr briefly moved back into second before Larsen improved once more to retake the position.

Bruce meanwhile continued to showcase her pace with a 1:40.7, good enough for third at the time.

Felbermayr then responded with a 1:40.3 to return to second place, but Palmowski still had more pace available, improving again to a 1:39.797 before later adding a 1:39.971. Her advantage briefly stood at eight tenths over second place.

Billard then clocked a 1:39.8, becoming the only driver within half a second of Palmowski and moving into second ahead of Felbermayr and Bruce. Ella Lloyd finally made an appearance to the top five and climbed into fourth after spending most of the session outside the top ten.

Bruce however continued her remarkable session with a 1:39.858, reclaiming second from Billard. Felbermayr also dipped below the 1:40 barrier to remain fourth ahead of Larsen.

The Ferrari-supported driver however was unable to improve on her final attempt after brushing the wall and damaging the left rear suspension.

Felbermayr still had one final push available and found another three tenths on her last run, clocking a 1:39.602 to snatch second place from Bruce.

Palmowski meanwhile remained stationary in the pits during the closing stages, already satisfied with her benchmark lap, and ultimately finished the session fastest overall.

The Briton ended practice ahead of championship leader Felbermayr and an impressive Bruce in third. Billard completed a highly competitive session in fourth ahead of Payton Westcott, who also produced a strong late improvement into the 1:39s.

Larsen finished sixth despite her late contact with the wall, followed by Lloyd in seventh. Ferreira, Robertson and Gademan completed the top ten.

Kaylee Countryman impressed with a strong final run to secure 11th ahead of Natalia Granada and Ella Stevens.

Former Montreal Wild Card Mathilda Paatz ended the session 14th ahead of Ava Dobson, Jade Jacquet, home wild card Fisher in 17th, and Kosterman rounding out the field.

Attention now turns to qualifying later in the evening at 6pm local time, where the grids for all three Montreal races will be decided.