Multiple GB4 race winner Alisha Palmowski is gearing up for her second F1 Academy season in 2026, and has started the year strongly already with pole position in Shanghai for this weekend’s season opener.
The British driver gained support from Red Bull Racing after finishing as the 2024 GB4 runner-up, and she made an instant impression in F1 Academy in 2025, winning the first race of the season in China and going on to claim four more podiums during the year.
Alisha enters the new year hotly tipped as a title contender, and she’s put the hard yards in during the winter to give her the best possible chance in the coming months.
“I’m incredibly excited for the season ahead!” she says. “I’ve had time to reflect on last season over the winter break and I’ve worked harder than ever to address my weaknesses in order to come back even stronger.
“I have left no stone unturned and am confident I am ready for the new season and new challenge ahead.”
The F1 Academy graduation came at a perfect time for Palmowski, who battled to get onto the GB4 grid with Elite Motorsport in 2024. But just like she would a year later, she made a positive first impression by winning the first race of the season at Oulton Park.
Her continued front-running exploits caught the attention of Red Bull, and led to her graduation to F1 Academy with the brand last year.
“My racing career very nearly came to an end at the end of my 2023 season in Ginetta Juniors but thanks to the opportunity both Elite Motorsport and GB4 presented, it ultimately caused a chain reaction to where I am today, working with an F1 team.
“I am extremely grateful and privileged to be in the position I am and I’m just constantly trying to use the opportunity to learn and develop in every area possible!”
Palmowski also enters the year with stability, as she remains with Campos Racing in the series.
“The continuity is critical for me. It’s actually the first time in my career that I am staying in the same championship for a second year with the same team.
“Everything was new last season, from the car to the team to the circuits to the travel! I’ve built really strong relationships with everyone within Red Bull and Campos and we all have made an effort to learn how to extract the best from each other, which automatically gives us an advantage to where we were at this time 12 months ago!”
Alisha also admits that she’s a much more rounded driver now than she was 12 months ago, thanks to her ever increasing experience levels.
“Every year of my career, I face new challenges which have required me to adapt and learn new things constantly. The learning is a never-ending process - for each box ticked, another three boxes appear it feels like.
“Last season, I learnt about things that I didn’t even realise I didn’t know! There are so many aspects and small, technical details involved in motorsport that means the learning never stops.
“I am definitely a completely different driver and person now to the driver and person who showed up to Oulton Park in 2024 at the start of my GB4 journey!”
F1 Academy races at Silverstone for the first time in the championship’s history this year, and Palmowski has positive memories of the venue from her GB4 days, as well as when she was a keen spectator a few years ago.
“Words cannot describe how special it will be to race at the British Grand Prix this year. I remember attending the GP back in 2015 when I was eight years old, dragging my parents with our deck chairs at 5am in the morning, waiting for the gates to open so we could sit front row and get the best view of the cars going past.
“So to now be on the other side of the fence, actually racing on circuit is just crazy to think. I have great memories of racing with GB4 at Silverstone and the race craft I learnt will definitely come in handy this year I’m sure!”
Palmowski is one of three GB4 graduates on this year’s F1 Academy grid, with Megan Bruce joining her at Campos Racing representing Tag Heuer, while Ava Dobson competes with Hitech and carrying American Express branding.
“It’s awesome to have three out of 17 full time drivers on the grid from around the world who have graduated from GB4” she acknowledges.
“I think that is proof and evidence how great the championship is and how well it prepares you to race in such a high profile series like F1 Academy. My advice to them would be to have an open mind, learn as much as possible and enjoy it! Embrace every second of it.”
Finally, having claimed pole position for this weekend’s opener, Palmowski is well aware of how important the coming season is for her future career.
“There’s no denying this year is critical for me. Without winning the championship, I am unsure what my motorsport future looks like. There is pressure there in that respect, but equally, I want to win regardless of any consequences, so it doesn’t change anything in terms of my approach going into the season. I am confident we can make it happen!”
