Alicia Palmowski secured her maiden F1 Academy win in Race 1 of the 2025 Chinese Grand Prix weekend ahead of Chloe Chambers and Maya Weug.
Alpine-backed driver Nina Gademan was on reverse grid pole for the first race of the F1 Academy season. F1 Academy rookies Emma Felbermayr and Joanne Ciconte lined up in second and third for their debut race in the series.
Ella Lloyd was required to start from the pitlane as a result of her tyres being below the minimum tyre pressure.
Lights Out in Shanghai
Nina Gademan got a great start off the line, as did Chloe Chambers. Ciconte got a slower start and lost out as a result. Chambers was immediately pressuring Felbermayr for third place, who lost second place to Palmowski. The battle between the three allowed Gademan to build a gap right away.
Maya Weug also had a great first few corners, moving up to fifth on the grid. She will start on pole tomorrow, but the reverse grid meant the Ferrari Academy Driver started in eighth.
Safety Car on Lap 1
A yellow flag flew on the first lap for the Wildcard Entry Shi Wei, who was stuck between the grass and the curb. The safety car was released as they started the second lap of the race.
The safety car returned to the pits at the end of Lap 4. Nina Gademan led the field to green flag racing as Chloe Chambers passed Felbermayr for third place in the first corner. Maya Weug immediately began to put pressure on the rookie for fourth place and overtook her a few corners later. Doriane Pin immediately followed.
Another Safety Car on Lap 5
Another yellow flag was out on Lap 5 for Aurelia Nobels, who was stopped on track. Lia Block made contact with Nobels after locking up, causing damage to Nobels’ car. She tried to continue before pulling over and retiring the car on the side of the track. The safety car was released for a second time as a result of the incident.
Williams Academy Driver Lia Block appeared to have escaped unscathed from the incident. The safety car continued for two laps before entering the pits at the end of Lap 7.
Nina Gademan made her second safety car restart of the race on Lap 8. Alisha Palmowski was close behind, but the top drivers held position into Turn 1. There was more chaos behind.
Safety Car #3
Another yellow flag came out in the first sector for the American Express driver Nicole Havrda. She was taken out by Chloe Chong, who hit her from behind at the restart. The safety car was released for the third time on Lap 8. Chong was able to continue the race.
Joanne Ciconte was given a 10-second stop/go penalty for a tyre pressure infringement. Lia Block was also given a 10-second penalty for her incident with Nobels. Ciconte attempted to serve the penalty under the safety car on Lap 10, but that was not within the regulations. She was later given a second 10-second stop/go penalty for serving her first penalty incorrectly.
The safety car returned to the pits at the end of Lap 10 and we returned to green flag racing. Gademan had to make a third safety car restart with Palmowski, Chambers, and Weug behind. She got a great start, instantly creating a big gap between herself and second-place Palmowski.
Ferrari Academy Driver Maya Weug was close behind Chloe Chambers, eager to get a podium position. However, she dropped back from Chambers as Chloe got closer to Palmowski in second.
An Issue for the Lead
Nina Gademan started dropping through the field with an issue on the penultimate lap. She had led for the entire race before ultimately falling to last place. F1 Academy rookie Alisha Palmowski was now leading the race with less than two laps to go. Chambers was right behind.
Larsen and Felbermayr made contact, making way for Doriane Pin to improve to fourth. Larsen managed to regain the position from Pin in the final lap. The battle between Chambers and Palmowski continued throughout the last lap.
Chambers tried to make a move on Palmowski, but she ran out of corners before the checkered flag. Tina Haussman collided with Emma Felbermayr at the end of the last lap as Alisha Palmowski passed the checkered flag.
Red Bull Junior Driver Alisha Palmowski secured her first F1 Academy win in Race 1 of the 2025 Chinese Grand Prix weekend ahead of the more experienced Chloe Chambers and Maya Weug.
Photo Credit: Red Bull Content Pool
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