F1 ACADEMY Champion Alisha Palmowski to receive fully funded Formula Regional seat for 2027

F1 ACADEMY and Oracle Red Bull Racing have today announced that 2026 F1 ACADEMY Champion Alisha Palmowski will receive a fully funded seat in the Formula Regional European Championship (FREC) for the 2027 season.

Having secured the title of F1 ACADEMY Champion in Austin last month, Palmowski will graduate from F1 ACADEMY to race with Rodin Motorsport in FREC, while also joining the Red Bull Junior Team from 2027. The Brit will also benefit from a comprehensive testing programme, alongside continued support and development through the Red Bull Junior Programme.

F1 ACADEMY and Red Bull will together support Palmowski’s 2027 campaign, helping her make the next step up the single-seater ladder. This will build on Red Bull’s backing of Palmowski throughout her two seasons in the all-female series.

Palmowski first joined F1 ACADEMY as a Wild Card Driver in Qatar in 2024, before joining the Red Bull Racing Academy Programme and Campos Racing for her first full season in 2025. She claimed her maiden F1 ACADEMY victory on her debut weekend in Shanghai and finished fifth in the standings in her rookie season.

Returning for a second campaign in 2026, Palmowski went on to secure the title with three races remaining, having recorded five wins and seven podiums by the end of the penultimate round. She heads into next week’s season finale in Las Vegas with 172 points and a 52-point lead at the top of the standings.

Susie Wolff, Managing Director of F1 ACADEMY, commented: “What a journey it’s been for Alisha. From joining us as a Wild Card Driver in 2024 to becoming F1 ACADEMY Champion just two years later, she has grabbed this opportunity with both hands. Not only has she proven herself a worthy Champion, but she has also demonstrated to Red Bull Racing that she warrants their continued support and a place in their Junior Programme.

"Helping our Champions take the next step in their development is a part of our mission at F1 ACADEMY. We want to see them continue to progress and have the opportunities and support they need to climb further up the motorsport ladder.

"We are all proud of Alisha, not only for what she has achieved on track, but also for the character, determination and integrity she has shown off it. She is a fantastic role model for the next generation, and everyone at F1 ACADEMY will be cheering her on from afar as she takes on this next challenge.”

Alisha Palmowski, 2026 F1 ACADEMY Champion, added: “I’m so excited to continue my journey with the support of Red Bull and F1 ACADEMY behind me. Winning the F1 ACADEMY title in Austin, with my family there and so many people cheering me on, was surreal, and it’s a weekend I’ll never forget.

“I’ve developed so much as a driver and as a person over the last two seasons, and the support I’ve received from Campos Racing, Red Bull and F1 ACADEMY has been incredible. It’s taken a lot of hard work to get here, and I know there’s still a lot more to do but having that belief and support behind me makes the journey clearer.”

“Next season brings a new series, a new team and a fresh opportunity to test myself. Moving up the single-seater ladder has always been the goal, and I’m incredibly grateful to have the opportunity to race in Formula Regional with Rodin Motorsport. I can’t wait to get going.”