Alisha Palmowski secured a crucial pole position as F1 Academy headed to Zandvoort for the final Dutch Grand Prix. The Red Bull Racing-backed driver topped the session with a blistering 1:40.911s, ahead of Alba Larsen and Natalia Granada who rounded out the top three for Sunday's Feature Race.
As the session began, rain was falling around Zandvoort, with most drivers remaining in the pit lane while they let the showers subside. Even as the showers stopped, drivers stuck with the wet-weather tyres and remained tentative about heading out of the pits.
Larsen led the early runs, setting the first time of 1:48.309s, but her advantage was short-lived as Palmowski responded with 1:48.791s, still six tenths off Larsen's pace. The conditions were far from optimal, with Palmowski even running through the gravel on her next lap.
Nina Gademan was the first to get close to Larsen, just a tenth behind, but it was Palmowski who unseated Larsen at the top with 1:48.038s. Wild card entry Zoe Florescu set her first F1 Academy qualifying time of 1:49.364s, placing her thirteenth early.
With 15 minutes left, the field returned to the pits for a tyre change and a second shot at pole. Larsen reported it was still too wet for slicks, but Ella Lloyd's flying lap of 1:41.131s on slicks hinted at the potential. Megan Bruce was one of the first to commit to slicks, and her gamble paid off.
Granada was on a flying lap, showing impressive early sectors, but was forced to abandon it when Lisa Billard beached her car in the gravel at Turn 2, causing a red flag. After the restart, most drivers switched to slicks despite the surface not being completely dry. A second red flag came out when Rafaela Ferreira hit the barrier at Turn 3 in the wet conditions.
In the closing stages, Lloyd posted a strong 1:45.181s to briefly top the times, but Palmowski's earlier benchmark of 1:40.911s remained unbeaten, securing her pole and a vital advantage in the championship battle.
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