Rashid Al Dhaheri Makes Historic Ascent to FIA Formula 3 Championship
The 18-year-old Mercedes-AMG F1 Junior Driver becomes the first Emirati to compete in the prestigious FIA Formula 3 Championship, marking an extraordinary milestone for UAE motorsport.
A remarkable chapter in Emirati motorsport has unfolded with the announcement that Rashid Al Dhaheri will compete in the FIA Formula 3 Championship in 2027, establishing himself as the first national of the United Arab Emirates to grace the grid of this prestigious international series. The 18-year-old Mercedes-AMG F1 Junior Driver will represent his nation with Van Amersfoort Racing, a Dutch team renowned for cultivating exceptional international talent and boasting an illustrious heritage of nurturing champions through the ranks of global motorsport.
Al Dhaheri’s appointment to the FIA Formula 3 Championship represents the culmination of an exceptionally accomplished competitive trajectory. His journey commenced within the UAE’s thriving karting ecosystem, where he demonstrated prodigious talent by securing multiple World Series Karting titles and capturing the distinguished Macau International Kart Grand Prix. His progression through Formula 4 in 2023 proved remarkably successful, yielding five victories and fourteen podium finishes across consecutive seasons, before his advancement to Formula Regional in 2025 underscored his continuing development as a driver of considerable promise.
The 2026 season witnessed Al Dhaheri establish another historic precedent by becoming the first Emirati driver to secure victory in a Formula Regional race, an achievement realised at Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi. His sustained excellence throughout the calendar year encompassed three victories within the Formula Regional Middle East Trophy, culminating in the Vice-Championship title, alongside an impressive campaign in the FIA Formula Regional European Championship that encompassed three victories, eight podium finishes and one pole position.
The FIA Formula 3 Championship forms an integral component of the Formula One Grand Prix programme, with only thirty drivers competing at the international level across ten rounds spanning four continents. Al Dhaheri will commence his championship debut at Bahrain International Circuit from 12th to 14th March 2027, subsequently competing at Jeddah Corniche Circuit in Saudi Arabia for the championship’s inaugural visit to that prestigious venue. This series represents a pivotal stage within the FIA single seater pathway towards Formula One, the pinnacle of international motorsport.
Saif Rashid Al Noaimi, Chief Executive Officer of Ethara, expressed profound pride in Al Dhaheri’s continued progression on the international stage, emphasising that his advancement reflects the United Arab Emirates’ steadfast commitment to cultivating the next generation of racing drivers. He noted that the nation has achieved considerable progress in developing its motorsport infrastructure through strategic investment in facilities, grassroots programmes and opportunities for national talent to compete at the highest international level.
Al Dhaheri himself has expressed considerable enthusiasm regarding his elevation to FIA Formula 3, describing the opportunity as a significant milestone in his distinguished career. He has articulated his aspiration that his own journey will inspire young Emirati drivers to pursue pathways towards the pinnacle of international motorsport.
Source: WAM