Interview
ONE YEAR ON: Emma Felbermayr opens up on ‘unexpected’ Montreal victory and why she’s got a point to prove in the 2026 title fight
Emma Felbermayr entered the 2026 campaign in the shadow of many of her second-year rivals. Despite a solid rookie season, the Audi driver wasn’t tipped as a title threat, but she’s got no intention of letting that narrative stick.
Heading back to the scene of her maiden F1 ACADEMY win a year ago in Montreal, and now leading the Drivers’ Standings, Felbermayr is embracing being the one to beat and has made it clear she won’t back down without a fight.
“It’s great to return to Montreal,” begins Felbermayr. “We had quite a good weekend there last year. I think it was one of the strongest weekends last season for myself, both pace-wise and in racing.”
TURNING HEARTBREAK INTO TRIUMPH
Although Montreal delivered Felbermayr’s first piece of silverware, her route there was anything but straightforward. A storming drive in Race 1 saw the then-Kick Sauber driver go from eighth to her first F1 ACADEMY podium in P3.
Rodin Motorsport’s double podium celebrations were short-lived. Her joy was shattered after Felbermayr was disqualified for her car being below the minimum weight. Forced to reset with less than an hour before the lights went out for Race 2, she responded in the only way she knew how — channelling her disappointment into a gritty determination.
Sticking close to race leader Nina Gademan in the closing stages, Felbermayr seized her chance when a Safety Car restart was called with one lap remaining. She launched an audacious dive up the inside at Turn 9, and despite bouncing over the kerb at the final corner, held on to take an emotional maiden win.
“It was one of my proudest moments, not only for the win but also for doing it after the disqualification,” she notes. “Obviously getting the win in the main race would have been even better, but it was a good race, not a perfect race. It was so much better due to the race before and fighting back.”
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She added: “Nina left the door open, so I thought that’s the only chance I’ll get. I think she didn’t expect to get overtaken in that spot, so the unexpected ones are always the good ones.”
‘I made mistakes, but I had to do them’
Felbermayr’s rookie campaign was defined by her ability to learn from every opportunity, even if those lessons had to be learnt the hard way. Jumping straight from karting to racing cars on a Grand Prix weekend, the now-19-year-old began on the back foot but gradually came into her own as the season unfolded.
Although the Montreal win proved to be her high point of the year, Felbermayr views it as proof of her gradual progress, allowing the results to show the potential she always felt she had.
“From Shanghai to Jeddah and Miami, we saw so much improvement and I continued in Montreal,” she says. “It was always gradually improving, so Montreal wasn’t the race where I thought I can be better, it was just an overall improvement over the season.”
Felbermayr added: “I didn’t expect to win last season. I jumped from karting into F1 ACADEMY with only two races in F4, so it wasn’t easy. I didn’t really expect a lot at the beginning, but the start in Shanghai was already much better than what I thought it was going to be.
“That gave me a bit more confidence and a bit more motivation because the level is quite high here and without a lot of test days in these cars it was not easy. In general, I think you really saw the improvement over the season and coming back for the second one, I know everything. I know how the weekend goes, which now puts me at an advantage compared to last year where I had the disadvantage.”
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Ultimately finishing 10th in the Standings, Felbermayr is convinced there was more performance to unlock, but that she’s better off for making the mistakes she did.
“There was definitely more potential last year,” she admits. “Both the team and I have grown more into the season. On both sides, there were some challenges, not only from my side with driving, but also as a team where we struggled a bit.
“In general, our full potential wasn’t shown last year. I made mistakes, but I had to do them. It was my first year and you learn from mistakes. I’m better prepared for the season, I learnt from the mistakes and hopefully I can apply that now.”
‘I want to prove them wrong’
As one of six returning drivers, Felbermayr was frequently overlooked as a potential 2026 title contender. Much of the spotlight landed on the likes of Ella Lloyd, Alisha Palmowski and Alba Larsen, and that omission didn’t go unnoticed.
Despite being overlooked, the Audi driver has turned that doubt into fuel, resolved to show why everyone would be foolish to count her out.
“I saw the Instagram post from F1 ACADEMY with Abbi (Pulling) saying Alisha is going to be the Champion and so on and I thought nobody mentioned me,” she says. “I want to prove them wrong because I know I have the potential.
“Last year we started strong in Shanghai, so I knew it was one of my strongest tracks. The other ones maybe not as much, so it’s great to leave Shanghai P1 in the Standings. My mindset and motivation do really change.
“It was the first round of the season and I still want to keep the pressure low and just do what I always do. I try to be on the best form as possible for every weekend. For me, it’s important to be in that position at the end of the season and not now, but it’s always nice to be the hunted one.”
Carrying that spirit into Shanghai, Felbermayr fought her way on to the podium in the Reverse Grid Race before capitalising on Larsen’s mistakes to win the Feature Race — giving her the lead of the Drivers’ Standings for the first time in her F1 ACADEMY career.
Now heading into Round 2 with a target on her back, she’s focused on staying there all the way to the end. Her statement drive in Shanghai has made Felbermayr’s intentions clear, as she looks to use the title as a building block on her drive to the top.
Asked what winning the title would mean for her, Felbermayr replies: “It would mean a lot. Doriane (Pin), Abbi and Marta (García) have won it so far and they’re big names. Doriane got her first F1 test, so there are a lot of possibilities you can have after.
“It’s not the end goal, it’s just the goal for this season. I think it would help me in my career for the following years.”