Shanghai Free Practice

Date
Fri 13th March 2026 (UTC)
Fri 13th March 2026 (Local)

Timestamp
2026-03-13T01:10:00

Time

01:10:00 UTC (09:10:00 Local)

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League
F1 Academy

Season
2026

Round
1

Status

Location
Shanghai International Circuit

Video Highlights

Event Statistics

Description

The 2026 F1 Academy season kicks off at the Shanghai International Circuit, serving as the primary support event for the Chinese Grand Prix. The strategic narrative for the opening 40-minute practice session centers on the field’s adaptation to the high-energy demands of the technical layout, particularly the spiraling "never-ending" Turn 1 and the high-speed Turn 7-8 complex. The primary hurdle for the drivers is the "one-practice" format of the weekend; with only 40 minutes to find a rhythm before qualifying, any mechanical necessity or on-track error can significantly derail a driver’s entire round. Tactically, teams must focus on managing front-left tire graining, a common issue in Shanghai that can compromise pace during the final sectors of a flying lap.

The headline story for the season opener focuses on the second-year drivers like Alisha Palmowski and Alba Larsen, who are looking to assert their dominance following the graduation of the previous year's top three. Strategically, the session is equally vital for the 11 rookies making their full-time debut in the series, as they experience the 5.4km circuit in F1 Academy machinery for the first time. With the track expected to be dusty during the early morning running, the goal for the field is to maximize mileage while the surface "rubbers in" ahead of the high-stakes qualifying session later in the afternoon.

Reports

Result List

Result Description

The opening practice session of the season concluded with Alisha Palmowski making a clear statement of intent, topping the timesheets with a 2:04.550. The strategic narrative of the session was defined by the Red Bull Racing junior's efficiency; despite having one of the lowest lap counts on the board, Palmowski set a benchmark that was 0.467s faster than her nearest rival. The primary hurdle for the rest of the field was the rapid pace set by the veterans, as Alba Larsen (MP Motorsport) and rookie Payton Westcott (PREMA Racing) traded fast sectors throughout the final ten minutes to secure second and third respectively.

Tactically, the session saw several drivers exploring the limits of the Shanghai kerbs, most notably wild card entry Shi Wei, who triggered a brief yellow flag after a spin at Turn 1 before successfully rejoining. Rookie Lisa Billard impressed by finishing as the second-fastest newcomer in fifth, just behind Rafaela Ferreira. The session was a testament to the experience of the returning drivers, with the top 12 covered by less than a second, though Palmowski’s late-session improvement suggested she has found a "mechanical necessity" in her setup that the others have yet to match.

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