Palmowski quickest once again on Day 2 of in-season testing at Zandvoort

Alisha Palmowski continued her momentum into Day 2 of in-season testing, completing a clean sweep by going fastest in both the morning and afternoon sessions around the Circuit Zandvoort.

In the morning, the Red Bull Racing driver set the pace, posting a 1:36.740 to go quickest overall within the first hour of running, ahead of Alba Larsen. In the afternoon, the Briton's pace continued with another strong performance, setting a 1:37.620 to go just over a tenth clear of Ella Lloyd.

MORNING

The session got off to a quick start with six drivers heading out onto the track immediately at the Green Flag to start their reconnaissance laps. However, it was Ava Dobson who set the first flying lap time with a 1:41.777, which was immediately beaten by Lisa Billard, followed by Larsen. Esmee Kosterman was next to go fastest, with the LEGO Racing driver setting a personal best lap time of 1:38.479 a few laps later.

Palmowski was the first and only driver to break into the 1:36s, after setting three personal best times within the first hour. Exchanging fastest lap times with Larsen, the Red Bull Racing driver lowered the time to beat from 1:37.730 down to 1:36.740 while the Ferrari junior couldn’t get closer than 0.273s off.

Running slowed within the second hour with the majority of drivers heading to the pits. Mathilda Paatz, Dobson, Zoe Florescu, Nina Gademan and Rachel Robertson, however, all opted to continue increasing their mileage by a few laps, with one or two out on the track at once.

Palmowski’s efforts remained untouched to the chequered flag despite a late surge of personal bests from the drivers behind. The Red Bull Racing driver finished the session ahead of Larsen, with Emma Felbermayr a further 0.136s back in third.

Billard ended the morning in fourth, followed by Lloyd and Natalia Granada. Payton Westcott finished in P8 ahead of Kosterman and Gademan.

AFTERNOON

Hitech's Robertson and Dobson were the first drivers on track for the afternoon session. Robertson posted an initial time on a 1:43.713 before lowering it on the following lap into the 1:40s.

The PUMA driver’s stint at the top would be brief as Lloyd set a benchmark lap of 1:38.678 before immediately going two tenths faster on the next attempt, with Felbermayr close behind.

The trio continued to battle, with Felbermayr lowering the time to beat to a 1:38.143 before Palmowski picked up where she left off, breaking into the 1:37s on her fourth lap.

The Briton immediately lowered the time again to 1:37.747, leaving Lloyd, Felbermayr and Robertson to continue their battle for P2, with the McLaren driver posting a time just 0.060s slower than Palmowski.

Robertson brought out a brief Red Flag after touching the barrier and stopping between Turns 8 and 9. Once running resumed, many drivers stayed in the pits, with Dobson, Jade Jacquet, Billard, Larsen, Gademan and Palmowski briefly heading out on track into the second hour. The #21 car continued to improve, as Palmowski put 0.109s between herself and the #20 McLaren with a 1:37.620.

There was one further interruption as Gademan brought out the Red Flag after going off into the gravel at Turn 9 at the start of the third hour. Billard moved up into P3 once running resumed, just 0.053s behind Lloyd.

However, nobody could beat Palmowski’s lap across the remaining track time. Lloyd remained in P2, ahead of Billard and Felbermayr. Gademan wound up in P5 ahead of Robertson, Westcott, Larsen and Rafaela Ferreira.

That concludes F1 ACADEMY in-season testing at Zandvoort. The action will resume for Round 4 in Zandvoort from August 21-23.