F1 Academy Montreal Reverse Grid Race 2026 Round-Up: Ferreira Penalty Hands Paatz First Win

Mathilda Paatz claimed her maiden victory in the F1 Academy Montreal Reverse Grid Race 2026. She took the win after Rafaela Ferreira was handed a five-second time penalty for a false start on the final lap. The Aston Martin driver had run second behind Ferreira throughout before the post-race penalty elevated her to the top step, the first win of the season for both driver and team. Kaylee Countryman was promoted to second and Payton Westcott to third after a wave of post-race penalties reshuffled the classification. Ferreira, who had led every lap, dropped to tenth. Emma Felbermayr recovered from an early spin to eighth and limited the championship damage heading into Sunday’s Feature Race.

Key Points – F1 Academy Montreal Reverse Grid Race 2026

• Paatz takes her maiden F1 Academy victory after Ferreira’s five-second false start penalty. First win for Aston Martin in the series
• Ferreira led every lap but a false start on the final lap restart dropped her from first to tenth in the final classification
• Countryman promoted to second, Westcott to third after post-race penalties to Larsen and Lloyd. Both take their first F1 Academy podiums
• Felbermayr spun at Turn 8 after contact from Larsen on Lap 1, recovered from the back of the field to eighth and the final championship point
• Palmowski’s race ends with a broken front wing after contact with teammate Bruce at Turn 2. Gademan also caught up in the incident and into the barriers
• Two safety cars across the race distance. Stevens handed a 10-second stop-and-go for being out of position at the safety car line, plus a further five-second penalty for speeding in the pit lane

Race Recap: F1 Academy Montreal Reverse Grid Race 2026

The Start: Ferreira Takes the Lead, Chaos Behind

Ferreira got the better of polesitter Countryman off the line and moved into the lead immediately. The Racing Bulls driver was placed under investigation for a false start almost immediately. Behind her the opening lap delivered immediate carnage.

Felbermayr attempted to go around the outside of Larsen at Turn 8. The Ferrari driver hit the orange kerb and tagged Felbermayr, spinning the Audi driver to the back of the field. At the same corner Dobson was forced to retire after contact from Fisher behind. Robertson’s race ended shortly after when Lloyd made contact with the rear of her car, the collision triggering a concertina effect through Stevens and Kosterman behind. Safety car on Lap 2.

First Restart: Ferreira Holds, Palmowski Comes to Grief

The safety car withdrew at the end of Lap 6. Ferreira nailed the restart through the final chicane and held the lead. Palmowski, looking to capitalise on the pack behind her, braked late into Turn 10 and was forced onto the grass to avoid collecting Larsen. The move left her with a broken front wing and her afternoon effectively done.

Ferreira could not pull clear. Countryman and Paatz both stayed within half a second of the leader. Paatz had attempted a pass the lap before and on Lap 10 she swept through at the final chicane to move into second. For the first time all race, Ferreira was under pressure.

Second Safety Car: Palmowski and Bruce Collide, Gademan Into the Barriers

Larsen moved up the inside of Westcott for fourth on Lap 13. Palmowski tried to cut back on the Mercedes driver and made contact with teammate Bruce, who had attempted her own move from the inside. Gademan, with nowhere to go, clipped Bruce and went into the barriers at Turn 2. Second safety car.

Final Lap: Ferreira’s Win Taken Away

Racing resumed with one lap remaining. Ferreira produced a clean restart and crossed the line first. Officials ruled Ferreira had moved before the restart procedure was complete. The five-second false start penalty was then applied, dropping her from first to tenth and handing the win to Paatz. Countryman and Larsen went side by side to the final chicane for second, Larsen nipping through at the last moment on the road. Both then lost positions through post-race penalties, with Larsen’s five-second penalty for the Felbermayr collision at Turn 8 dropping her to eleventh and Lloyd’s five-second penalty for the Robertson incident dropping her from seventh to thirteenth. Countryman was promoted to second and Westcott to third.

Reverse Grid Race Classification

Coffee Corner Take

Ferreira led every lap and left with nothing. A false start on the final lap restart cost her the win, ten points and what would have been her first F1 Academy victory. In this series, one small mistake can be the difference between winning and finishing tenth. Today it was exactly five seconds added to her race time.

Paatz has back-to-back podiums across the two Montreal races and now a maiden win. Third in the Opening Race, first here. She has been building quietly and the results are starting to reflect it. Aston Martin finally have a win in the category.

Felbermayr’s championship lead took a hit across both races but the damage is contained. A stall in the Opening Race, a spin at Turn 8 here, and she still walks away with points from both. Tenth in Race 1, eighth in Race 2. Not what she came to Montreal for, but not a disaster either. The Feature Race on Sunday is where the championship points are largest and she starts from a position to respond.

Palmowski won Race 1 by the largest margin in F1 Academy history and ended Race 2 with a broken front wing in the barriers. She lines up on pole for the Feature Race. The question is whether the team can reset fast enough after the Reverse Grid damage.

Countryman and Westcott both take their first F1 Academy podiums through the post-race reshuffle. Neither would have chosen to get there that way.

What’s Next?