Red Bull Academy retains Rafaela Ferreira and Alisha Palmowski for 2026 F1 Academy season
- RACERS
- 3 hours ago
- 2 min read
Rafaela Ferreira and Alisha Palmowski will continue with the Red Bull Academy structure for their second F1 Academy season in 2026, following positive rookie campaigns that saw the Briton win a race and claim four podiums, with the Brazilian scoring a top five to date on her first international season.
Red Bull Racing Pepe Jeans Academy Programme and Visa Cash App Racing Bulls Academy Programme have confirmed that Rafaela Ferreira and Alisha Palmowski will remain with the Red Bull Academy structure for the 2026 F1 Academy season, extending their contracts after strong rookie campaigns.
Palmowski, 19, made an immediate mark on the series by winning on debut in the reverse-grid race in Shanghai and has since collected four podiums, positioning herself as a top-three and top rookie contender with two races still to run.
The British driver had already showcased strong potential through her rise in Ginetta Juniors and a breakthrough single seater rookie season in GB4 in 2024, where her race-winning form and the MSV top female prize fund enabled her step into F1 Academy with Campos Racing under the Red Bull banner.
“I’m really excited to continue my F1 Academy journey with Red Bull Racing. I’ve loved being part of the Team this last year and can’t wait to continue working hard next season.” Palmowski said.
Rafaela Ferreira has also earned her renewal after a season of steady progress in her first full international campaign. The 20-year-old Brazilian moved to F1 Academy following a superb year in the 2024 F4 Brazilian Championship — where she claimed ten podiums, three wins, and became the first woman to win a race in the series.
Ferreira has since scored points five times in F1 Academy, including a P5 finish in Shanghai. She briefly returned to Brazilian F4 for the non-championship round supporting the São Paulo Grand Prix, where she immediately returned to the top step of the podium in Race 2.
“Returning for another season in F1 Academy will give me the chance to further develop my skills as a driver and I’m honoured to represent the VCARB family in the series,” Ferreira said.
With all ten Formula One teams committing to long-term support for F1 Academy, the Red Bull Academy Programme will continue to oversee both the Visa Cash App Racing Bulls and Red Bull Racing academy entries in 2026.
Programme manager Sarah Harrington praised both returning drivers, stating: "As a Team, we're delighted to keep Alisha and Rafa on board for next year. We've enjoyed some great moments with both of them this season, particularly their debuts in Shanghai. Both have continued to progress as the year has gone on, and we're eager to see their development as second-year drivers in 2026.”