Felbermayr F1 Academy: 25-Point Deficit Heading Into Silverstone

The past weekend in Spielberg was a special experience for Felbermayr. "Das ist ein Traum, das zumindest einmal zu fühlen, auch wenn ich selber nicht gefahren bin." The car is rolled to the mechanics for tire changes during the tests, and Felbermayr had to brake at the right moment and keep her overview. She described this as something "ganz Besonderes" in her APA interview. At Spielberg, it was the first time she had sat in a Formula 1 car.

First Taste of Formula 1 in Spielberg

Attention at Audi is greater than at Sauber last year, explained the Upper Austrian. In 2026, Felbermayr drives for Audi, and she shares the hospitality with the Formula 1 drivers Nico Hülkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto at the race tracks. She sees the insight into Formula 1's day-to-day operations as additional motivation for her own career. At the same time, she warns against expectations rising too quickly: "Die Academy ist nicht mein Endziel." The path to the top category is a long one, and for women in a sport dominated by men, it is an especially difficult one.

Step by Step Toward Formula 3

Felbermayr is approaching the project step by step. Alongside the F1 Academy, she regularly competes for points against men in Italian Formula 4. A few weeks before her first appearance at Silverstone, she was also racing against male competitors in British Formula 4 at the historic circuit in order to accumulate practice kilometers. "Da gibt es mehrere Optionen mit einigen guten Meisterschaften wie etwa die Formula Regional," explained Felbermayr with a view to the time after the Academy season. After the end of the season, the step into a faster car should follow, into a championship between Formula 4 and Formula 3.

Felbermayr considers it realistic that a woman could one day sit in a Formula 1 cockpit. "Ich glaube schon, dass es auf jeden Fall möglich ist, wenn eine mit Talent und allen Voraussetzungen kommt," she said. At the same time, she remains down-to-earth: "Ich sage nicht, dass ich definitiv in die Formel 1 komme. Ich will jetzt die F1 Academy gewinnen und dann schaue ich, welche Türen sich öffnen." She currently sees the F1 Academy clearly as an intermediate step. "Das ist für mich jetzt nur ein Zwischenschritt." The goal is the title, after which she wants to tackle the next level.

Shanghai Victory as a Confidence Booster

The opening races of the season in Shanghai went promisingly for Felbermayr. At the season opener in the Chinese metropolis, she won the main race. "Die ersten zwei Rennen haben gezeigt, dass Alisha und ich ein bisschen weiter vorne sind," she said with a view to championship leader Palmowski. Her direct rival leads the championship, but the gap of 25 points is closeable. Felbermayr sees the title fight as open and points to the races still remaining.

The Upper Austrian still sees room for improvement in qualifying. "Meine Starts waren eine Katastrophe," Felbermayr openly admitted. "Es wird nicht einfach, aber ich will es ja auch nicht einfach haben." She acknowledged that she still has weaknesses in qualifying. "Ich konnte da manchmal den Moment noch nicht so genießen," explained the native of Wels. This self-criticism is part of it for her, because the F1 Academy at a Formula 1 weekend is a different world from the familiar junior series. She sees her debut season in the F1 Academy, which ended with tenth place overall, as a complete learning curve.

Visibility as the Key to Success

The F1 Academy is a racing series with Formula 4 cars for women between the ages of 16 and 25. The races take place as part of the Formula 1 program. Through this platform, the drivers receive enormous visibility. "Wir bekommen in der F1 Academy enorm viel Sichtbarkeit und Aufmerksamkeit – und dadurch auch Sponsoren," Felbermayr emphasized. This attention is crucial especially for junior drivers, since motorsport is a cost-intensive sport and sponsors often make the difference.

Felbermayr comes from a genuine motorsport family. The 19-year-old comes from a family in which her father and grandfather were fixtures on the endurance racing scene for many years. These roots in motorsport shape her career path and give her a solid environment. Her family background helps her put the ups and downs of racing in perspective.

Felbermayr describes the balancing act between two racing series as demanding. "Es sei immer schwierig, zwischen zwei Meisterschaften zu wechseln, ihr Fokus liege derzeit auf der F1 Academy," it was said from her circle. "Ich fahre ja daneben noch die italienische Formel-4-Meisterschaft," she said. Nevertheless, she puts all her work into the F1 Academy. "Aber meine ganze Arbeit stecke ich in die F1 Academy." The combination of the Academy and Italian Formula 4 is meant to prepare her for bigger tasks.

Double Burden: Academy and Formula 4

She got a taste of the top category in Austria. At Spielberg, she was allowed not only to take a seat in the cockpit of a Formula 1 car, but also to take a look behind the scenes. "Nicht viele haben die Möglichkeit, in so ein Auto zu steigen," said Felbermayr. This experience reinforces her in her career goal, without losing sight of the long haul. The step into a faster car is only to come after the end of the season.

Felbermayr thinks in stages. "Dann denke ich einfach Schritt für Schritt weiter," she explained of her approach. First the title in the F1 Academy, then the switch to a faster championship, and at some point perhaps the leap into higher motorsport classes. The 22-year-old Frenchwoman Doriane Pin, who completed a total of 76 laps in a Silver Arrow during a test at Silverstone in April, shows that this path is fundamentally possible. Felbermayr sees in this a confirmation that the dream of Formula 1 can be attainable for women. "Es ist natürlich der Traum," said Felbermayr.

Two and a half years ago, Felbermayr got her driver's license under the L17 program. "Strafzettel: Vor zweieinhalb Jahren habe ich mit L17 den Führerschein gemacht," it was said in this regard. This little anecdote shows that the young pilot follows her path consistently, even off the racetrack. At just 19 years of age, she has already gained experience in several racing series and is well on her way toward top-level motorsport.

Silverstone as the Next Test

The upcoming race at Silverstone is a special one for Felbermayr. She has already trained at the historic circuit in British Formula 4 and therefore knows the track. With the experience gathered from the opening races of the season, the victory in Shanghai, and the additional practice time at Silverstone, she travels there with confidence. Her goal is clear: to win the F1 Academy. "Das ist für mich aber eine Lernmeisterschaft," explained Felbermayr with regard to the learning process. The race on Sunday (11:00 a.m. CEST) at Silverstone will show whether she can further close the gap to Palmowski. "Es gibt nur 22 Plätze in der Formel 1, und wenn ein Mann nicht liefert, wird er genauso rausgeschmissen." She shares this sober view of motorsport with other professionals.

For all her ambition, Felbermayr remains realistic. "Ich sage nicht, dass ich definitiv in die Formel 1 komme," she stressed. The title in the F1 Academy is the next milestone; everything else will develop in time. With Audi behind her, experience in Italian Formula 4, and additional practice time on the Silverstone circuit, she has good prerequisites to close the gap to Palmowski in the upcoming races. Her dream of Formula 1 lives on, even if the path there is still a long one. "Mädchen, hört nicht auf die Vorurteile," is her appeal to young