A mixed conditions session with various interruptions set the grid for both races at the fan favourite Zandvoort circuit early on Saturday morning as F1 Academy returned from the summer break.
It looked like Campos racing would have a double pole weekend with championship leader Alisha Palmowski on pole for the main race on Sunday and Tag Heuer backed Megan Bruce on reverse grid pole alongside wild card Zoe Floerescu but a post qualifying disqualification for the latter would see Payton Westcott promoted to P8, in turn taking reverse grid pole.
Bruce would slot in beside her in P2 with Rachel Robertson in third. A dry track met the drivers after a short downpour between sessions meaning all drivers could bolt on the slicks for the race start.
A disastrous start for Palmowski with a stall on the grid from P8 along with Mathilda Paatz as the lights went out would see the pair fall to the back of the pack. Further up the order, Nina Gademan was the driver to watch as she shot up into P3 into turn one, instantly battling Bruce for P2 as Mercedes backed Westcott pulled away at the front. A great move into turn one would see Gademan slot into P2. A mistake from Natalia Granada on the same lap whilst defending from Emma Felbermayr would see the French driver into the barrier, bringing out the safety car.
A short safety car period before racing got back under way would see Bruce drop down the order from P3 to P7 off the start as Westcott held her lead out front. The battle for P3 heated up behind as Robertson, Felbermayr and Alba Larsen began their battle for the final step of the podium. A great move into turn one on lap 6 would see Larsen jump into P4, slotting herself in the middle of the ongoing battle.
Ella Llyod found herself climbing up the order nicely after a slightly disappointing qualifying as she battled Bruce for P8 and the final points position. An amazing move around the outside of Robertson would see Larsen put herself into the podium places, setting her sights on teammate Gademan ahead.
A tough race continued for Palmowski as she found herself stuck down the back as the grid continued to be tightly packed. The safety car returned to the track on lap 9 as Jade Jacquet found herself out of the race after contact with teammate Lisa Billard just as Larsen caught up to the back of Gademan, beginning to put pressure on the Dutch Alpine driver. The safety car period allowed the grid to reset as Westcott’s lead was once again cut down.
A chaotic restart would see Westcott nail her start, gapping the pack from the off as Larsen caught Gademan out slightly, taking P2 into turn one and setting off after the race leader. Behind there would be a big battle brewing between multiple drivers. Felbermayr, Robertson and Esmee Kosterman fought for P4 with Felbermayr finding herself with a 5 second penalty after contact with Robertson in the midst of the battle.
Llyod would be one of the biggest winners as she went wheel to wheel with teammate Felbermayr, catapulting herself into P6 as well as Kosterman who threw herself into the battle for the podium as she slotted into P4. The battle for the lead settled slightly as Westcott held her own in front, Larsen keeping her on her toes in P2. An amazing move from Llyod would see her secure a top 5 finish from P11 on the grid as the race neared the final laps.
A first win for Westcott as she held on, crossing the line ahead of Larsen who also secured her best finish in the series as Gademan would make it another home race podium, escaping the chaos behind and holding onto P3. The points would be rounded out by Kosterman, Lloyd, Robertson, Bruce and Ava Dobson.
Championship leader Pakmowski could only manage P12, voicing over the radio of potential issues with her Red Bull liveried car in the dying laps of the race.
With full points on offer in tomorrow’s main race, the British driver will be hoping that today’s misfortune can be left in the past and can secure herself another win in her bid to be the next champion.
Featured image credits: Prema_team (on Instagram)