Alisha Palmowski wins after late drama in F1 Academy season opener
The Brit took victory in the reverse-grid season opener after heartbreak for pole sitter Nina Gademan.
SHANGHAI—Alisha Palmowski won a drag race to the finish line in the F1 Academy season opener at the Chinese Grand Prix after heartbreak for early leader Nina Gademan.
Gademan confidently led the reverse-grid race from pole positions and through three safety car restarts before a mechanical issue on the penultimate lap saw her pull to the side of the track, ceding the lead to Palmowski.
The Red Bull-backed Campos driver held off a challenge from teammate Chloe Chambers on the last lap to take victory and secure a Campos 1-2, with Maya Weug completing the podium.
"I’m feeling over the moon to be honest," said Palmowski.
"It feels like a whirlwind, I just feel like everything just happened so quickly. It was a difficult race."
"Obviously, a lot of Safety Cars, which is tricky to get into your rhythm because this is such a momentum-based circuit that you like to get in a flow and be consistent with your lap time.
"Very sorry for Nina as well because she did a great job. We were fortunate with that, but super happy to get a 1-2 for the team as well."
Aussies Aiva Anagnostiadis and Joanne Ciconte were eighth and fourteenth respectively in their F1 Academy debuts.
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