Red Bull has signed Alisha Palmowski to its 2025 F1 Academy roster, but who is the 18-year-old British sensation? Motorsport Week spoke exclusively with Palmowski to discuss her career to date and what drives her moving forward.

A lifelong Formula 1 fan, racing is in Palmowski’s blood. “I’ve sort of always grown up with the influence of motorsport around me,” said Red Bull’s newest recruit. “Since my great-grandad was a BriscaF1 stock car racing driver. But yeah, so it was sort of by fluke that I got involved in motorsport myself. Because I’d been a huge fan of motorsport ever since I was 5 or 6 years old, watching motorsport on the TV. I was lucky enough to go to the British Grand Prix a few times when I was young. Sort of 2015, 2016 time. But it was just by complete chance, just as a fun activity to do with my grandparents on the 6-week holiday from school [that] they took me go-karting. ‘I was like, what’s a go-kart?’ I’d never even heard of it. So it was just completely by chance. I always think about where I would be now if I had never had that day. Because it’s completely changed the trajectory of my whole life and career.”

From karting to cars

Palmowski’s karting obsession turned from a hobby into a career in 2016 and ’17 when she competed in the Daytona Junior InKart Championship, before progressing into the BirelART Series UK in 2018, earning Junior Rookie Champion. The BirelART series was rebranded as the Daniel Ricciardo Series UK national championship in 2019 and Palmowski was Junior Vice Champion in 2020 and ’21. This period was pivotal for Palmowski, setting her on a path to car racing and single-seaters.

“[In the Daniel Ricciardo series] we got my own kart and it’s a national series, so we went all around the UK racing,” Palmowski explained. “And then that’s where it really started to transition from a hobby into a potential career path. Then we were sort of looking at how we make the transition into car racing and that happened via the Ginetta Junior Scholarship.”

After earning her stripes in the Ginetta Junior Scholarship programme, Palmowski contested two seasons in the Ginetta Junior Championship, a series that has nurtured F1 race winner Lando Norris, among others.

“You only have to look at the drivers who have come from Ginetta Juniors, as you mentioned, Norris, Zak O’Sullivan, Jamie Chadwick,” said Palmowski. “There’s been a lot of great drivers come through Ginetta Juniors. They’re extremely difficult cars to drive. They’re on road tyres rather than on slicks. So they’re designed naturally to be very, very loose cars. The car control that equips you with is unmatched really. It really changed my career and it made me into the driver I am today.

“I don’t think you can get much closer racing than Ginetta Juniors. It’s extremely tight. It really taught me to get my elbows out and to be a bit more tough and fight harder. So it helped develop my race craft and car control, which has directly translated into driving and racing a single-seater. So full credit to Ginetta Juniors because without even winning that scholarship, I think I’d have never even sat in a race car. So they really have changed my whole career.”

An accomplished single-seater debut

From Ginettas, Palmowski embarked on her first season in single-seaters, contesting the GB4 championship, which is considered a perfect entry point to open-wheel racing in the UK. Palmowski immediately hit the ground running, winning her first race at Oulton Park and she went on to take two further victories and eight podium finishes to end the year as vice-champion.

“GB4 this year has been absolutely incredible,” said Palmowski. “It’s more than I could have hoped for, to be honest. It was my first year in single-seaters, so it’s been a huge learning curve. There’s been a lot of differences compared to the Ginetta Juniors. Being on slick tyres has been the predominant change. Learning all the tyre warm-up routine, and degradation. In terms of the step up, actually, they’re around 30 seconds plus a lap quicker than Ginetta Juniors, the GB4 car. So extremely quick, a big, big step up. But yeah, to be honest, we exceeded expectations throughout this year.”

Palmowski revealed her target in GB4 was to turn enough heads for an F1 team to take her under its wing for a place in F1 Academy. In that sense, it’s mission accomplished and Palmowski credits the GB4 series organisers MSV and its commander-in-chief Jonathan Palmer.

“There was a lot of pressure to perform and try to get spotted by a Formula 1 team,” Palmowski said. “But winning the debut race at Oulton Park at the start of the year was just the best start that we could have ever hoped for. And I’ve progressed and grown in confidence throughout the whole year. I’m a much, much stronger driver now than I was at the start. So it really did serve its purpose. And without the GB4 championship again, I would never have raced a single-seater car. So that championship really did give me a great opportunity and finishing top female gave me a prize fund of €30,000 towards an F1 Academy drive. So huge shout-out to MSV and Jonathan Palmer for that opportunity because it’s helped massively.”

Getting noticed on the international stage

Not only did her stellar GB4 campaign get her noticed by Red Bull and F1 Academy, but Palmowski took 2024 BRDC Rising Star and BWRDC Gold Star honours. Moreover, Palmowski was among the top-10 nominees for this year’s Silverstone Autosport BRDC Award alongside the likes of Abbi Pulling and Arvid Lindblad. Previous winners include George Russell, Jenson Button and David Coulthard and the award is judged by some of British motorsport’s top brass. It’s just the recognition that can help propel a young driver’s career.

Palmowksi said it was “absolutely incredible” to be nominated for “such a prestigious award.”

The 18-year-old added: “The drivers who have won it previously in the past and also just been nominated is such a high calibre, such a high standard. So to be amongst the top-10, it was something that I’d aspired to achieve in the future, but not necessarily this year at this early stage in my career. It is still early doors. It’s my first year in single-seaters. Obviously, we didn’t progress any further [than the top-10], which, to be totally honest, I didn’t expect to. With the calibre of drivers, particularly this year, it was extremely high. But it is something that I definitely aspire to be nominated for again in the future. Fingers crossed if I can keep performing and keep delivering results. But it was just such a great feeling [top be nominated]. It’s sort of the top-10 best UK junior drivers in up-and-coming ranks to F1 that get nominated for that award. So it was a great, great moment and a great confidence booster for me too.”

From national recognition, Palmowski made her debut on the world stage with a wildcard appearance at the Qatar round of this year’s F1 Academy championship. Palmowski fared well, qualifying sixth and finishing fifth in the sole race at the Lusail International Circuit.

“[It was] my first time experiencing the F1 support paddock,” Palmowski explained. “Such an awesome vibe. The amount of people around you, the fans. It’s such a step up in every aspect. And I [absolutely loved] every second. Again, it’s a huge learning curve. There are lots of differences. There’s a lot more media.”

Alisha Palmowski: A member of the Red Bull family

Palmowski’s performances in 2024 grabbed the attention of Red Bull and she will wear the F1 giant’s colours for the 2025 F1 Academy campaign. Red Bull is famed for its wide network of junior drivers and is perhaps the perfect place to nurture talent, in equal parts ruthless and educational where only the best will thrive.

“Honestly, there’s not enough words to describe how grateful I am for the opportunity that I’ve been given,” Palmowski exclaimed. “It’s an absolute dream come true. I mean, Red Bull, they’re obviously an incredible team. They’re a team that I’ve admired for years growing up. Multiple world champions in F1. They aren’t where they are by accident.

“I’ve been given access to the factory. They’ve welcomed me so incredibly well. I could not have had more support from them, even though it is early doors. I start with them properly next season. But I can totally see how it’s going to help me progress and develop as a driver for the next stage of my career. The F1 Academy drivers get equal access to the actual Red Bull Junior drivers, so the development that’s going to do for my career is going to be incredible. I’m just so, so grateful for the belief that they’ve put in me and I hope I can do them proud next year.”

Going ‘full attack’ in 2025 and beyond

Palmowski’s plan for 2025 is to go “Absolutely full attack.” Just as her plan in 2024 was to get to F1 Academy, her plan next year is to win the all-female world championship.

“I think every one of the F1 Academy drivers should say that they want to be champion and they want to win,” Palmowski said. “I believe it’s the mentality a driver should have and I do believe we can give it a go. Although having said that, I’m totally aware and realistic of the challenge that that will be. It won’t be easy by any means. There’s going to be a lot of new drivers to the grid next year, so I’ll have an equal sort of experience level to them. But equally, there’s going to be some returnees as well who already know some of the circuits from this year that are returning to the calendar next year. So obviously they will have an upper hand and more experience in that respect. But then again, it’s a great opportunity for me to push myself, learn from them and try to be towards the front. I always say I’m never happy in a race car unless I’m winning at the front. So there’s always more time to be found. I’ll be doing everything I can. I know I’ve got a great support network around me in Red Bull and Campos as well. So I’m just super, super excited for it all to begin.”

This year’s F1 Academy champion, Pulling, has won a fully funded drive in GB3 next year with Rodin as her prize. GB3 is considered a natural stepping stone to the FIA Formula 3 World Championship, to which the doors are opened to the F1 ladder in the truest of senses. This is not lost on Palmowski and her strategy for the future is already forming.

“We as racing drivers, we naturally look towards the future,” Palmowski explained. “I think you do have to have some sort of a plan of where you want to be in the future and what you have to do in order to achieve that. But equally, I do like to work on a year-to-year basis because motorsport in every form is a results-based business and you’ve got to perform in order to be given opportunities in the future. So I’m really focussing on next year.

“I’m going to try to do the best job that I can do to be given that opportunity further into the future. The F1 Academy champion is being given a seat in GB3 for next year, which is incredible. It’s the next step up on the single-seated ladder in motorsport. So the aim is obviously to try and win the championship, to be given that opportunity to further my career in the future.”

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British rising star Alisha Palmowski has been signed to the Red Bull Racing Pepe Jeans Academy Programme for a 2025 F1 Academy title tilt.

Palmowski had a stellar 2024, her first year in single-seaters culminating in GB4 vice-champion honours.

Her performances put her on the map for an F1 Academy wildcard appearance in Qatar, where she impressed with a top-five finish in the sole contested race.

The 18-year-old now graduates to F1 Academy full-time next year with Red Bull following a successful career that has included campaigns in the Daniel Ricciardo Series (karting), Ginetta Juniors and GB4.

“I am incredibly excited and honoured to be joining the Red Bull Racing Pepe Jeans Programme in F1 Academy for 2025,” said Palmowski.

“Oracle Red Bull Racing is one of the best teams on the grid, and to see the talent they have brought through the doors and to get to be a part of that next generation is something that I could never have imagined.

“The Team has been incredibly supportive so far, and I can’t wait to get fully underway with them in 2025 with the ultimate goal of winning the championship.

“I have already been working in the sim and with the team to get a jumpstart on next year and have full focus on performing and delivering results.”

Red Bull Academy Programme Manager, Sarah Harrington said: “Alisha impressed us from the start and has already proved herself on the F1 Academy grid as a Wild Card entrant in Qatar.

“We are very excited to welcome her to the Red Bull Academy Programme for 2025, and she is a great addition to complete our line-up as we look to next season.

“We’ve taken a lot of key learnings from our first year in F1 Academy, and are looking forward to building and pushing harder with a fresh challenge.”

Red Bull switching to Campos for 2025 F1 Academy campaign

Red Bull uses its Formula 1 platform to support three drivers in F1 Academy, through the Red Bull Racing Pepe Jeans, Visa Cash App RB and Red Bull Ford entries.

In 2024, those three machines were operated by MP Motorsport, but next year Red Bull has just confirmed it’s switching allegiances to Campos.

Red Bull already has a strong relationship with Campos with its junior drivers Arvid Lindblad and Pepe Marti signed with the team for the 2025 FIA Formula 2 Championship.

F1 Academy race winner Chloe Chambers will pilot the Red Bull Ford entry in 2025, continuing her 2024 relationship with Campos.

In the Visa Cash App RB machine, there will be another F1 Academy rookie in the form of Brazilian F4 race-winner Rafaela Ferreira.

READ MORE – 2025 F1 Academy grid expanding with Hitech

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GB4 Vice-Champion Alisha Palmowski has revealed that she learned the circuit for the hastily-rearranged FIA Formula E women’s test via computer game Assetto Corsa.

The young British driver, who is partaking in the test with Envision Racing, has had to frantically learn the Circuito de Jarama Madrid after the test was moved to the former Formula 1 venue from Valencia after the devastating floods in the region prevented the original plan to go ahead.

But Palmowski, who, like all the drivers taking part, had simulator time with her respective team, but unlike some, has had the opportunity to gain some knowledge of the layout via her home sim, but told Motorsport Week she recognised the difficulties her and her fellow drivers are going through.

“It is a bit challenging, but then again everybody’s in the same boat, and just a big well done to Formula E for even managing to reschedule it, because I know myself and I know a lot of people didn’t even expect it to go ahead at all. Just really grateful that we’re here. 

“I haven’t done sim time at the actual factory on this track, as most drivers haven’t, but I have got a sim at home that I’m fortunate enough to have downloaded the track, so I have done a few laps, I know which way I’m going.

“Beyond that, not much more, but we’ll be doing a track walk in the morning to try and just get our heads up and try and learn a little bit more. We’re all in the same boat, so we’ll just have to learn as quickly as we can.”

“Can I be totally honest, this is really embarrassing, my dad [downloaded] it, so I’ve got no idea what he did, but I used Assetto Corsa for it. 

“I’ve obviously watched onboard videos as well, just of the various different cars, and it looks pretty good up to date. Obviously the last chicane on the start-finish straight wasn’t there that Formula E have added in, so I just have to learn that as quickly as possible, but I’m guessing nobody will have had any practice around that, so we’re all pretty much equal.”

Palmowski ‘didn’t expect’ Envision chance

Palmowski is one of Britain’s bright young motorsport talents. Starting karting in 2015, she made her single-seater debut just this year in GB4, and took three wins and two pole positions.

She admitted she was blindsided by Envision’s interest.

“I think it was a couple of months ago. It was via my management, Infiniti Sports Management – they’ve got good connections with Envision, and via that this opportunity has come around, which I totally didn’t expect. 

“I’m really, really excited for the opportunity I can’t wait!”

Whilst there has no been no doubting her capabilities behind the wheel, Palmowski is taking a giant step by driving a Formula E car, but will take small ones in the process to get to grips with the vehicle underneath her, and also revealed that she will be using previous World Champion Sebastien Buemi’s challenger for the day.

“It’s just a huge learning curve for me, a huge learning experience. The car’s a lot, lot quicker, different to anything that I’ve ever experienced before, so I just need to adapt as quickly as possible, slowly build up to it, chip away.

“I’ve got great reference data in terms of I’m alongside Alice Powell, who’s been a development driver for quite a few years now, so she obviously has quite a good idea of what she’s doing. 

“I’m going to be driving Sebastian Buemi’s car, so obviously he knows what he’s doing pretty well as well, more than I do! So it’ll be great to compare myself to them, and hopefully just improve throughout the session and gain confidence.”

Single-seater future secured

Palmowski seems a natural racer, given her almost immediate success in GB4, and credits her impressive results down to the level of difficulty many of the UK’s race tracks provide.

“It’s been a big learning curve coming from Ginetta Junior, so quite a big step up. Obviously the UK, so the tracks are very, very challenging, such as Alton Park, Donington Park, there’s not much margin for error, so it’s been a difficult year, but then again to come out as vice-champion, it’s also equally been great, many highs and lows, but I just absolutely love being in a single-seater.”

For some drivers, talent is not a guarantee of continuity, but thankfully for Palmowski, she has been able to secure her future for another, something she revealed to us.

“I’m aware how privileged I am, I know how many young drivers would actually love the chance to be in a single-seater that I am, and I will be staying on the single-seater ladder for next year. 

“I can’t go into too much information as to what that will be currently, but it’s looking very exciting and I just want to continue my development and hopefully rise up the single-seater ladder as far as possible, and if that ends up in Formula E, then that’s absolutely exciting. 

At Palmowski’s age – 18 – many drivers, both male and female, will come to a point where they either prefer to go down certain routes in motorsport, but she has no qualms about anything that might be on the table.

To be honest, I have a totally open mind. I will be in single-seaters for the next year, but I sort of work on a year-to-year basis.

“Obviously, it’s very much a results-based business. You’ve got to perform, you’ve got to deliver results and also have to have opportunities, so each year I just need to make sure I’m doing the best job that I can do, and with that more doors will open and more opportunities will come. 

“So in terms of the long term in the future, I really just have an open mind, don’t have my eyes set on one particular thing, I’m just doing the best job I can and then hopefully I’ll have more opportunities open to me.”

Palmowski is highly-rated by many firmly-established motorsport figures in the UK, including former F1 driver-turned FIA steward Johnny Herbert, and such praise comes as a confidence boost to the Mancunian.

“Just to have support from those people, it’s absolutely incredible. I actually got to know Johnny through one of my sponsors, and Johnny actually came to my final round at Brands Hatch this year at GB4, so absolutely incredible to have people like him.

“It also gives me my self-confidence knowing that these people who have achieved such great things, that they think I’m decent and they rate me quite highly, so that’s absolutely incredible. 

“In terms of Formula E, this opportunity for women, it’s an absolutely great opportunity for the exposure. There’s such a varied experience level across the grid, I mean you’ve got drivers like Alice, like Jamie, who have got IndyCar, Formula E experience itself, you’ve got F3 drivers down to Formula 4 drivers, such as myself.

“I know Ella Lloyd, we’re both in our first year of single-seaters, so it’s great for us to benchmark ourselves and compare ourselves to each other, and hopefully perform well and give ourselves more opportunities in the future, and also within that we’re establishing great relationships with the team, so I’m extremely lucky and grateful to Envision for giving me this opportunity to even showcase what I can do, so I really just want to learn the best job possible.”

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