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Live sport on SN this weekendRace of Champions a 'dream come true' for F1 Academy racer
Sport Nation • November 12th, 2026 11:38 am
Alisha Palmowski | Photo: Getty Images/Red Bull Content Pool
Competing in the Race of Champions is a moment 2026 F1 Academy champion Alisha Palmowski has dreamed about since she was a child.
The 20-year-old who races in partnership with Red Bull Racing will take part in the event in New Zealand from 9-10 January, teaming up with David Coulthard to represent Team Great Britain.
“Honestly it has not even sunk in yet, the incredible news,” she told Sport Nation Mornings.
“I've just been the biggest fan of the Race of Champions for so many years. I actually went to the Race of Champions back in 2015 in London as a spectator. I was nine years old at the time, so to now actually be competing in it is just a complete dream come true.”
Alisha Palmowski on the grid at Circuit of The Americas | Photo: Getty Images/Red Bull Content Pool
The opportunity came as a surprise during the Austin Grand Prix weekend, when Coulthard asked Palmowski to be his teammate - the same weekend she was crowned F1 Academy Champion.
“I've known David obviously being part of the Red Bull Racing family. David just randomly out of the blue came over to me and asked me if I wanted to be his teammate representing Team GB in New Zealand in January.
“I was like 100%, it didn't even take me 10 seconds to decide so it was a bit of a whirlwind.”
Palmowski has yet to drive the cars she will compete in at Hnry Stadium in Wellington, but is looking forward to the challenge of adapting.
Alisha Palmowski | Photo: Getty Images/Red Bull Content Pool
“I haven't driven any of them yet to be honest, so I will very much be in the deep end.
“Every single different style of car that I get to drive, it will require a different driving technique to extract performance from it," she explained.
“DC is obviously sort of a veteran of Race of Champions. I think I read he's done it 16 times or something like that, so I think he knows the cars quite well. So I'll have a lot of conversations with him, a lot of chats.”
Palmowski believes the opportunity has also come at a pivotal time in her motorsport career.
“It's a great opportunity. That's exactly what every young driver needs, I think to experience as many different styles and types of cars as possible, just to expand our toolbox of knowledge effectively.
“So, it's the perfect opportunity for me at this stage in my career.”
Red Bull Racing and Racing Bulls teams: Max Verstappen, Alisha Palmowski, Isack Hadjar, Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad | Photo: Getty Image/Red Bull Content Pool
Palmowski also shared insight into the tight-knit Red Bull family, having close contact with Liam Lawson, Isack Hadjar, Arvid Linblad and Max Verstappen.
"Liam's great. I met him at the start of last year. He's just been so friendly, answers any questions that I have.
"He was one of the first people to actually come and congratulate me after winning the championship in Austin.
"He's definitely one of my favourites, and it is a privilege to share the team with him really.
"It's just amazing that I have access to these incredible drivers, every young driver would kill for this opportunity to ask questions to some of the best drivers in the whole world."
Listen to the full interview below:
