We sat down at the BRDC Superstars Training Day at the University of Bath with F1 Academy championship leader Alisha Palmowski to get her assessment on her year. Here’s what she had to say:
Alisha, how has the season gone so far?
“We’re at the halfway point now with F1 Academy. We’ve done seven races, seven to go and I think it’s been a really strong year so far. We’ve made great progress as a team from last season. It was a big learning curve for us, so all the learnings that we took from last year, we’re now able to start translating those into results, which is what we wanted to do last year. It’s great that that’s actually happening now this year.
“So, I feel really calm and confident. There’s no reason why anything should change in the second half of the year, although I’m under no illusion that anything is won or lost yet, so I want to keep approaching the championship in the same manner that I’ve done in the first half of the season. The preparation work has been really strong in terms of the simulator time, the physical training, so we’ll just keep working hard behind the scenes and hopefully keep the momentum going.”
Canada was a big weekend where you were rally able to show your abilities and speed…
“Yes, Montreal was a great weekend. A stressful weekend as we had three races as opposed to the standard two in F1 Academy. We’ll have the same later on this year in Austin, having three races across the weekend. So, a much busier weekend with a lot more points on offer.
“It was always a track that we were strong at last year, but we just had various different issues last year that meant we didn’t get the results. So, to get finish the way we did and showcase the potential pace that we showed last year, it was exactly what I needed to do. It gives me a small buffer in the championship as well, so that’s taken some pressure off me, which is appreciated.”
MONTREAL, QUEBEC – MAY 24: Race winner Alisha Palmowski (Photo by Sona Maleterova/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool)
One of the highlights of the year so far must have been winning the race at the British Grand Prix in front of the home crowd. Tell us about it.
“Definitely, yes! Winning at Silverstone, I told everybody going into the weekend that I was approaching it in the same manner, in the calm, considered way. It was no more important than any other Grand Prix, same points on offer, but naturally, if I could only win one race this year, it would be Silverstone that I wanted to win!
“So, I did put additional pressure on myself because of that, but equally, we didn’t crack under that pressure, and I was still able to perform. I think that was another great test for myself and my mentality. It’s shown how much I’ve matured in the last 12 months and how much I’ve grown as a person, as well as a driver.
“The biggest difference between the two years is just how much I’ve developed as a person and how much I’ve learnt through the support of Red Bull. I think that was showcased with a win at Silverstone, which was so special to have sponsors there, my family, my friends, it’s a memory that will always stay with me.”
You also did something very cool at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed, giving the Red Bull RB17 its first public runs.
“Yes, it was very cool. Firstly, the trust and belief that Red Bull put into me to be, I believe, the fourth ever person to drive the brand-new Red Bull hyper car, the RB17, up the hill at Goodwood. It was actually my first time ever at Goodwood, so to be driving such a car up the hill, at my first time – what an opportunity, what an experience.
“It’s very early days in terms of the project for the RB17. It’s the first prototype of the car, so a lot of the systems aren’t yet enabled. It’s still quite a step up in the F1 Academy car and I’m just so grateful to get the chance to do some development work as well in the simulator at Red Bull in the factory.
“I’m learning so much from not only a driving point of view, but the engineering aspect, because it’s quite a unique project. It’s very different to what I’m used to in the F1 Academy car, which is a standard single seater. The amount I’m developing in terms of my engineering understanding is equally as strong as the driving. I’m hugely grateful to Red Bull for that chance.”
CHICHESTER, ENGLAND – JULY 09: Alisha drives the RB17 on a display run during the Goodwood Festival of Speed at Goodwood Motor Circuit on July 09, 2026 in Chichester, England. (Photo by Simon Galloway/Getty Images) // Red Bull Racing / Red Bull Content Pool)
Zandvoort is this weekend. What’s the approach for the rest of the season?
“The same! I keep saying that. I just want to approach the second half of the year in the same manner, in the same way. There’s no reason why I’ve got to change anything, because what we’ve been doing has been working.
“Equally, I know that the rest of the grid is getting stronger, race by race. Everybody, all the rookies, in particular, are getting more and more experienced. So, I expect that gap to close down, the margins to get smaller and tighter, as we go throughout the year.
“I do now have that buffer in the championship, so I can be quite considered and make wise choices and choose risk versus reward quite well. I’m in a fortunate position that I am able to do that, should I need it. I want to be as quick as I can, get every pole, get every win, but equally, I can pick my battles. I’m excited for Zandvoort.”