Post-race penalties alter F1 Academy reverse-grid race results, Westcott promoted to third

Post-race penalties have reshuffled the results of the F1 Academy reverse-grid race in Montreal, promoting Kaylee Countryman to second place and dropping Alba Larsen out of the points and handing Payton Westcott the final step of the podium after penalties for three drivers following multiple incidents during the chaotic contest.

Photo credits: F1 Academy Ltd

Post-race penalties have reshuffled the results of the F1 Academy reverse-grid race in Montreal, promoting Kaylee Countryman to second place and dropping Alba Larsen out of the points after the stewards issued sanctions to three drivers following multiple incidents during the chaotic contest.

The most significant penalty was handed to Alba Larsen, who originally crossed the line in second place after a strong drive that included a spectacular late-race overtake. Following a post-race investigation, the Ferrari-supported driver received a five-second time penalty for causing a collision with Emma Felbermayr at Turn 8 on the opening lap.

According to the stewards’ report, Larsen hit the orange kerb before making contact with Felbermayr, spinning the Audi-backed driver around. After reviewing the footage, officials determined that Larsen did not have her front axle alongside Felbermayr’s mirror on corner entry and therefore held the Danish driver responsible for the collision.

The penalty proved extremely costly, dropping Larsen from second position all the way down to 11th in the final classification and stripping her of what would have been her maiden F1 Academy podium.

Ella Lloyd also received a five-second time penalty for causing a collision with Rachel Robertson at the exit of the final chicane. After reviewing the incident post-race, the stewards concluded that Robertson did not brake before the contact and that the McLaren-backed driver was therefore to blame for the accident that eventually brought out the first safety car.

As a result, Lloyd fell from seventh to 13th in the revised results, losing both championship points and the extra point she had secured for fastest lap.

A third penalty was issued to Autumn Fisher after contact with Ava Dobson at Turn 7 on the first lap that sent the AMEX-supported driver into the barriers. The stewards reviewed the video footage and noted that Dobson was ahead at corner entry, and Fisher herself admitted responsibility for the incident, explaining that it was a mistake and that she was unable to avoid the collision.

The Standard Chartered-backed driver was subsequently handed a five-second penalty, demoting her from 13th to 14th place in the final standings.

The revised classification significantly altered the podium and points positions behind race winner Mathilda Paatz, who secured her maiden F1 Academy victory after Rafaela Ferreira’s jump-start penalty.

Kaylee Countryman was thus promoted to second place, earning the American driver her first F1 Academy podium finish, while Payton Westcott inherited third to complete the podium.

Natalia Granada moved up to fourth position, continuing her impressive start to the season with another strong result, ahead of Lisa Billard in fifth. Emma Felbermayr’s recovery drive after an early-race spin was also rewarded, as the Austrian climbed to sixth in the amended classification. Megan Bruce moved up to seventh, while Rafaela Ferreira secured the final point in eighth after her own five-second penalty for a jump start had already dropped her down the order.