Glossop's Queen of Speed takes F1 Academy crown

When eight-year-old Alisha Palmowski completed her first lap around a karting track in 2015, she could have hardly imagined what she would go on to achieve 12 years later. 

What began as a way to spend the school holidays with her grandparents became the starting point of her journey to the summit of women’s motorsport.   

After years of hard work, dedication and sacrifice, Glossop’s queen of speed finally got her crowning moment over the weekend, as she became the 2026 F1 Academy champion. 

In fitting circumstances, the driver – who sports the Barry Manilow lyric ‘we dreamers have our ways’ on her helmet – made her dreams come true on US soil.   

The 20-year-old sealed the title a round early with a stellar performance in Austin, racing to her fifth win of the season and extending her lead to an insurmountable 53 points. 

Palmowski got her weekend off to a dream start, landing pole position in qualifying after overcoming a tense battle with Mercedes’ Payton Westcott, one which continued into Friday’s opening race. 

A slow start off the line allowed the American to hit the front, only for the Red Bull Racing driver to wrestle back the lead in an instant, which she kept hold of for the remainder of the race to land win number five of the campaign. 

Starting from P8 in Saturday’s reverse grid race, the Simmondley star surged up to P2 to claim the title in style, becoming the youngest ever driver to do so. 

“Thank you so much,” she exclaimed on her team’s radio following the triumph. 

“Every single one of you, you are my heroes - you’ve made a dream come true.” 

Alisha poses with Red Bull Racing Team Principal and CEO Christian Horner back in 2018, with a dream of one day representing them.

Despite Sunday’s third and final feature race ending in disappointment, as the former St Phillip Howard student was forced to retire following contact with Ferrari’s Alba Larsen, this did little to dampen her spirits on a historic weekend. 

“It’s incredible, honestly,” she said holding back tears of joy following her championship win.  

“I don’t know what to say, I’m just trying not to cry. “There’s so much hard work that’s gone on behind the scenes, not just from myself but all the people behind the camera that you won’t see. 

“They’ve lived it day and night with me throughout the whole year, we’ve worked so hard and haven’t left a stone unturned.” 

As well as thanking her team, Palmowski was also keen to highlight how crucial her family’s support has been to her success.  

“It’s been a really special journey,” she commented. “We started racing when I was 8/9 years old. My dad was my mechanic, and my mum has been to every single race I’ve ever done. 

“They’ve made so many sacrifices behind the scenes. They’ve really put their lives on pause to allow me to live my dream, so I’m just so glad to repay them back.” 

In what was a heartwarming end to the interview, the 20-year-old also dedicated the win to her ill grandmother, who has been with her since the very start of her journey. 

Not only have the weekend’s events helped Palmowski – who is a lifelong F1 superfan – achieve her dream, but they ensure the family name remains synonymous with racing success. 

The 2024 GB4 Championship runner-up continues in her great-grandfather Marian’s footsteps, who was a successful BriSCA F1 Stock Car racing driver throughout the 50s, 60s and 70s.  

But the speedster is far from finished, and will look to end the year with a flourish as she tackles the bright lights of Las Vegas next month. 

The F1 Academy returns to the US for the final round of action, which takes place between the 19th and 21st of November.