Battig dominates debut F1 Academy practice session at Silverstone

Photo: F1 Academy

Wildcard driver Chiara Battig took top spot in a dominant showing around Silverstone in her debut F1 Academy practice session.

The Swiss driver comfortably cleared championship leader Alisha Palmowski while Nina Gademan completed the top three.

Track action took a while to come to life in the opening stages, Esmee Kosterman briefly brining out the yellow flags as her MP Motorsport car ground to a halt at the entrance to the support pit lane before the Dutch driver was able to restart and get going once more.

McLaren-backed Ella Lloyd set the early pace with a 2m05.240s, which she bettered on her next lap by 1.027 seconds.

Lisa Billard bought the yellow flags back out after a spin down at the first turn while Emma Felbermayer found pace to go fastest by 0.080s with a 2m04.133s.

The Austrian cemented her place at the top on her second trip, moving 0.844s clear with a 2m03.369s. Megan Bruce briefly moved into second before Lloyd reclaimed the position, 0.515s behind Felbermayer.

With 20 minutes to go Felbermayer remained untouchable at the front, Gademan being her closest challenger, 0.070s behind. Gademan then set the benchmark next time around with a 2m03.189s.

Gademan’s time at the top was short lived though as guest driver Battig moved to the front. Having been 0.121s adrift her previous lap, the Swiss driver moved 0.308s clear at the front.

Championship leader Palmowski was the last driver to take to the circuit with 15 minutes remaining. The home hero’s opening lap was only good enough for 12th, leaving her 1.309s behind.

Battig was finding even more time and set a purple middle sector as she extended her gap up front over Gademan to 0.549s with a 2m02.640s.

Palmowski’s next lap was much better as the Red Bull-backed driver moved to within 0.422s of Battig.

The gap between the front two fell once more as Palmowski moved to within 0.349s of Battig before moving even closer with a 2m02.848s leaving her just 0.208s behind.

Gademan was the only improvement late on as she leapfrogged Felbermayer for third, 0.241s adrift of session-topper Battig who held onto top spot.

Palmowski couldn’t find time to toppled the Swiss driver while Felbermayer and Ella Stevens wrapped up the top five.

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