Palmowski Claims Double F1 Academy Pole at COTA After Reinstatement Drama

Alisha Palmowski turned qualifying heartbreak into a double pole in Austin after officials reinstated her fastest lap at the end of a chaotic F1 Academy session at Circuit of The Americas on Thursday. The Red Bull-backed championship leader had looked beaten when her final flyer was deleted for exceeding track limits out of Turn 20, handing provisional pole for both main races to home favourite Payton Westcott, whose 2:07.812 had edged Palmowski by 0.143 seconds. But a post-session review restored her 2:07.714, flipping the order. Palmowski will now lead the field away for Friday's Opening Race and Sunday's Feature Race in round five of the 2026 season. Westcott, who represents Mercedes, settles for second ahead of Nina Gademan, with Natalia Granada qualifying an impressive fourth. The session capped a dramatic day in Texas. Emma Felbermayr, Palmowski's nearest title rival, had topped the sole practice session but was undone in qualifying after losing laps to track-limit violations, including a lock-up in Turns 19 and 20 on a lap that looked good enough for the front row. Palmowski leads the standings on 136 points, 48 clear of Felbermayr, and can seal the championship this weekend. Rafaela Ferreira secured reverse-grid pole for Saturday's second race.