Shanghai Race 1: Alisha Palmowski wins 2025 F1 Academy season opener in China

SHANGHAI — Alisha Palmowski won her first career race in F1 Academy in the season-opening event of the 2025 season at Shanghai International Circuit after teammate Chloe Chambers brought the fight to the checkered flag in a three-lap dash to the finish.

The Campos Racing driver, supported by Red Bull Racing, won the race that had three Safety Cars in an incident-filled Race 1 in China.

MP Motorsport driver Maya Weug, who is supported by Ferrari, climbed up from eighth to third in the race that saw a reverse grid.

“Chloe had a really good launch off the line, and I noticed she was going round the outside,” Palmowski said on F1Academy.com. “That left me with one option, which was the inside. I know Lap 1 is the best opportunity to try and make progress and make positions.

“Full send, we went for it and thankfully we all came out unscathed and I made a position. A good start and a good first lap to my F1 Academy career.”

Before Lights Out

In Race 1, the top eight in qualifying reversed their order on the grid. This lineup only impacted Race 1; Race 2 will still be determined by fastest lap time in qualifying. For Race 1, Nina Gademan of Prema Racing, supported by the BWT Alpine Formula 1 Team, started on pole with Emma Felbermayr in second and Joanne Ciconte in third.

ART Grand Prix driver Lia Block, who is supported by Williams Racing, started at the back of the grid and drove up to ninth place in Race 1.

Ciconte was noted for a starting procedure infringement. Shi Wei, the wildcard driver for Shanghai, had an issue getting her car up to speed as everyone started the formation lap. Meanwhile, Ella Lloyd had to start from the pit lane due to tire pressure

After Lights Out

Once the lights went out, Nina Gademan made a great start getting out front to keep her spot in first place. Chloe Chambers was able to gain, starting a three-way fight for second. Maya Weug went up the inside at the start to get away from Doriane Pin, Tina Hausmann and Alba Larsen.

Shi Wei beached her car in sectors 1 and 2, which brought out the Safety Car as the first lap ended. The Safety Car ended on Lap 4 as Gademan pulled away from the rest of the crowd, as the battle for third continued between Alisha Palmowski and Chambers. Pin was able to get up to fifth from Emma Felbermayr.

After being hit by teammate Lia Block, Aurelia Nobels spun out, ending Nobels’ race. This incident caused another Safety Car. Then, the Safety Car ended at the end of Lap 7. Following the second restart, Gademan pulled away as another yellow flag came out. Chloe Chong hit Nicole Havrda, starting a third Safety Car.

MP Motorsport’s Joanne Ciconte was given a 10-second stop-and-go penalty for adjusting tire pressures too late.

The third Safety Car ended at the end of Lap 10, making the race a three-lap sprint to the checkered flag. Gademan led the way with Weug continuing the battle for third, trying to get past Chambers.

Felbermayr locked up as Larsen tried to take sixth place. Chambers chased teammate Palmowski, the race leader. Gademan had a technical issue which pushed her pack from first to 15th in a disappointing end to her race.

Chambers caught up to Palmowski to try to take the lead with Weug right behind both of them in the final stretch of the last lap. During the last corners, Palmowski and Chambers battled to the checkered flag.

Ultimately, Palmowski prevailed as Chambers did not take a huge risk to overtake her teammate and settled for second. Weug took the final spot on the podium in third.

Race 1 Results

1. Alisha Palmowski
2. Chloe Chambers
3. Maya Weug
4. Doriane Pin
5. Rafaela Ferreira
6. Ella Lloyd
7. Alba Larsen
8. Aiva Anagnostiadis
9. Lia Block
10. Chloe Chong
11. Emma Felbermayr
12. Courtney Crone
13. Tina Hausmann
14. Joanne Ciconte
15. Nina Gademan
16. Nicole Havrda
17. Aurelia Nobels
18. Shi Wei