Here is a stunning leap up the single-seater ladder. As Motorsport.com España reports, the 2026 F1 Academy champion Alisha Palmowski has locked in her next racing chapter, confirming a fully funded seat in the Formula Regional European Championship (FREC) for 2027.
The 20-year-old British driver will make the switch to Rodin Motorsport next season. Along with the team change, she is stepping directly into the Red Bull Junior Team, an agreement that includes a dedicated testing program to help her get up to speed in the new machinery.
Palmowski's journey to this moment has been built on relentless progress. After debuting as a wildcard entry in Qatar back in 2024, Red Bull backed her for a full campaign with Campos Racing in 2025. She stayed with Campos and Red Bull for 2026, dominating the championship to secure the title in Austin, Texas, with three races still remaining on the calendar after racking up five wins and seven podium finishes up to the penultimate round.
"I'm very excited to be able to continue my trajectory with the support of Red Bull and F1 Academy," Palmowski said. "Winning the F1 Academy title in Austin, with my family there and so many people cheering me on, was something surreal. It's a weekend I'll never forget."
F1 Academy managing director Susie Wolff emphasized that the young driver earned her place in the Red Bull development program through pure merit on the track. Wolff pointed out how Palmowski transformed herself from a 2024 guest entrant into a dominant title-holder in just two years, proving to Red Bull Racing that she fully deserved continued backing.
This ongoing relationship with Red Bull has already brought Palmowski close to the top tier of the sport, including observations of four-time Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen. Earlier in the week, the Briton highlighted Verstappen's relentless mindset, aggression, and never-give-up attitude as the key traits she admires and learns from most.
Before the 2027 switch to Formula Regional arrives, the current F1 Academy season will wrap up in Las Vegas from November 19 to 21, running alongside the Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix weekend.
