Nina Gademan Clinches Second F1 Academy Victory with Dominant Austin Performance

Nina Gademan showcased her racing prowess in Austin by seizing her second victory of the F1 Academy season, moving up to second in the drivers' standings with only a couple of races remaining. Starting from third, the Alpine driver took charge at the first corner, overtaking Payton Westcott and the newly crowned 2026 champion, Alisha Palmowski, by making a bold move around the outside of Turn 1.

Gademan managed to create a gap between herself and the chasing pack, mastering a Safety Car restart with aplomb to secure her win. Meanwhile, Alisha Palmowski's race came to a premature end after a collision with Alba Larsen, which also took Larsen out of contention. This incident paved the way for Payton Westcott to finish second in front of her home crowd, while Natalia Granada claimed the third spot on the podium, marking her first top-three finish since Shanghai.

Elsewhere, Jade Jacquet held off Emma Felbermayr to secure fourth place, her best result of the season, as Felbermayr settled for fifth. Lisa Billard and Rachel Robertson crossed the line in sixth and seventh respectively, while Ella Lloyd made a commendable drive from 13th to eighth, adding crucial points to her tally. Esmee Kosterman's final lap heroics saw her overtake two cars to grab ninth, and Megan Bruce rounded out the points-scoring positions, ensuring a fruitful weekend for TAG Heuer.

The F1 Academy now turns its attention to the glittering lights of Las Vegas for the final round of the 2026 season, scheduled from November 19-21. Fans can look forward to a thrilling conclusion as the championship battle heats up.