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Palmowski Clinches Thrilling Zandvoort Pole Position in Qualifying
Highlights
- Alisha Palmowski secured pole in wet-to-dry Zandvoort qualifying.
- Palmowski’s pole lap was 1:40.911, 0.864 seconds faster than Larsen.
- Natalia Granada achieved her best qualifying, starting third.
- Wild Card driver qualified seventh, starting front row for Reverse Grid race.
- Reverse Grid Race is scheduled for Saturday at 14:30 local time.
- Changing track conditions challenged drivers’ timing and tire choices.
Alisha Palmowski takes pole for F1 Academy at Zandvoort, mastering a wet‑to‑dry qualifying. The Red Bull Racing driver sets 1:40.911, finishing 0.864s clear of long-time pacesetter Alba Larsen.
The session opens on a damp track and steadily dries. Teams face a classic crossover puzzle, balancing tyre temperature with traffic to catch the final, faster laps as grip rapidly improves.
Larsen controls timing screens early and again late, but Palmowski rebounds from a gravel excursion. She nails a final run as the track peaks, overturning Larsen moments before the flag.
Natalia Granada delivers a career-best third, capitalising on late grip. Emma Felbermayr secures fourth, while home favourite Nina Gademan converts local knowledge into a solid fifth on an ever-improving surface.
Rachel Robertson takes sixth. A Wild Card qualifies seventh, earning a front-row start for Reverse Grid Race. Megan Bruce holds reverse-grid pole, with Payton Westcott ninth and Jade Jacquet tenth.
Palmowski’s 1:40.911 lap is 0.864s quicker than Larsen.
Timing proves decisive. Those who synchronise their out-laps with peak conditions profit, while early push laps fade. Palmowski’s camp executes the switch and spacing cleanly, extracting temperature without tripping traffic.
The result tightens narratives for the weekend. The Reverse Grid Race starts 14:30 local on Saturday, with Feature Race to follow as part of the Dutch Grand Prix weekend programme.
Zandvoort’s long-radius corners and banking reward rhythm but punish hesitation. Palmowski resets after her off, then strings sectors together. That composure under changing grip hints at robustness if showers return.
Granada records career-best P3; hometown driver Gademan takes P5.
Operational details could still influence form. Pit-lane procedures remain under scrutiny across the venue, as highlighted by recent pit-lane coverage, while local rail disruption affects scheduling margins.
Wild Card in P7 secures a front-row slot for the Reverse Grid race; Bruce starts from reverse-grid pole.
As grip evolution dominates, track position in traffic may decide outcomes again. Expect teams to prioritise out-lap prep, a theme echoed in wider Zandvoort qualifying analysis across categories.
Visual Summary
💦
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PALMOWSKI
Palmowski GRABS ZANDVOORT POLE!
Fastest lap: 1:40.911 ⏱️
(+0.864s over Larsen)
1
Palmowski
2
Larsen
3
Granada
🌧️
Started wet, finished dry. Late charge decided it all.
Started wet, finished dry. Late charge decided it all.
Next: Reverse Grid Race – Saturday 14:30
Zane Muniz writes across NASCAR, IndyCar, F1, IMSA, NHRA, and dirt-racing news. His breaking-news alerts and event previews ensure motorsport fans never miss a lap, drift, or drag-strip showdown.
