Rashid Al Dhaheri: Age, Racing Career, Wins and F1 Goal

Introduction

Rashid Al Dhaheri is an Emirati racing driver from Abu Dhabi. Born on 8 April 2008, he has spent most of his life around racing circuits.

He started very young. Very young.

His first interest came after visiting the Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix as a small child. Karting followed. Europe came next. Then Formula 4.

Right now, he races in Formula Regional and is part of the Mercedes-AMG F1 Junior Programme.

The Formula One dream remains clear.

Quick Facts

Fact	Details
Full Name	Rashid Al Dhaheri
Date of Birth	8 April 2008
Age	18 years old, as of September 2026
Birthplace	Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Nationality	Emirati
Profession	Racing driver
Current Racing Level	Formula Regional
Current Team	R-ace GP
Driver Programme	Mercedes-AMG F1 Junior Programme
Mercedes Junior Since	2025
2026 FREC Car Number	71
Former Formula 4 Team	PREMA Racing
Formula 4 Years	2023–2024
Formula Regional Years	2025–present
Main Career Goal	Formula One

Who Is Rashid Al Dhaheri?

Rashid Al Dhaheri is one of the young racing drivers representing the UAE in international single-seater motorsport.

His rise started with karting.

Then things moved quickly.

He raced across Europe, collected major karting titles, reached the Ferrari Driver Academy Scouting World Finals and joined PREMA Racing for Formula 4.

In 2025, another big move came.

Mercedes-AMG added him to its Formula One junior driver programme while he raced in Formula Regional.

His 2026 season pushed his name further into international junior racing. He won races in both the Middle East and Europe and fought near the front of the FIA Formula Regional European Championship.

Early Life in Abu Dhabi

Rashid was born in Abu Dhabi, UAE, on 8 April 2008.

Racing caught his attention almost immediately.

He was three when he visited the Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix at Yas Marina Circuit. The cars, garages and work happening around the teams caught his eye.

Basically, he wanted more.

His family had no professional motorsport background. His father later researched how a child could start racing and work towards Formula One.

Karting became the answer.

Rashid was soon driving in the UAE before spending more time racing and training in Europe.

How Rashid Al Dhaheri Started Karting

His karting story began when he was around four years old.

He first drove in the UAE.

Italy soon became important.

By around six, he was spending time in European karting, where many future Formula racing drivers learn race craft before moving into cars.

Those years were serious work.

He raced regularly. He learned new tracks. He faced young drivers from many countries.

And the wins started coming.

Karting Career and Major Titles

Rashid built a strong record during his karting years from 2012 to 2022.

One of his best-known records is his success in the Dubai O Plate, where he became a five-time champion.

He also won the 2018 Macao International Kart Grand Prix.

The 2019 season brought more major results.

He won the WSK Super Master Series in the 60 Mini category and the WSK Euro Series.

Then came 2021.

Racing in OK Junior, he won the WSK Champions Cup and the WSK Super Master Series.

Those results gave him experience against some of the strongest young kart racers in Europe.

That mattered.

Formula cars were getting closer.

Ferrari Driver Academy Scouting World Finals

A major opportunity came in 2022.

Rashid was selected for the Ferrari Driver Academy Scouting World Finals in Italy.

He was only 14.

Ferrari brought six young drivers to Maranello and Fiorano for several days of assessment. The drivers were checked on their physical preparation, behaviour, ability to handle professional racing life and driving performance.

Rashid represented the UAE.

Ferrari listed him as the youngest finalist in the 2022 group.

He drove a Formula 4 Tatuus during the programme at Fiorano.

The final place in the Ferrari Driver Academy went to Finnish racer Tuukka Taponen, so Rashid did not become a Ferrari Academy driver.

Still, reaching that final placed him in front of one of Formula One’s best-known driver development systems before he had even started a full Formula 4 season.

Moving From Karting to Formula 4

The next job was clear.

Move into cars.

Rashid joined PREMA Racing, one of the most recognised junior single-seater teams in Europe.

He started his Formula 4 racing career in 2023 after reaching the required age.

It was a big change.

Karting and Formula 4 demand different skills. Drivers need to learn tyres, aerodynamics, car setup, braking behaviour and communication with engineers.

Rashid had to learn fast.

And he did.

2023 Formula 4 Season

His first full season in cars came with PREMA Racing.

He competed in the Italian Formula 4 Championship and appeared in other Formula 4 events.

Early results showed progress.

At Monza, he secured a rookie podium and finished fourth in one race.

Macau brought another strong result.

In the 2023 Macau Formula 4 Race, Rashid finished third behind Arvid Lindblad and Charles Leong.

That put him on the podium at one of motorsport’s best-known street circuits.

He also picked up his first Formula 4 race win during his first two seasons in the category.

The learning curve was steep.

But the results came too.

2024 Formula 4 Season

Rashid stayed with PREMA for 2024.

That gave him another year to work in Formula 4 before stepping higher.

His home-region campaign went well.

In the 2024 Formula 4 UAE Championship, he collected two wins and five podium finishes and finished fourth in the championship.

Across his Formula 4 years, his official career record credits him with five race wins and 14 podium finishes across the championships and events he entered.

He also finished runner-up in the Formula Trophy UAE.

By the end of 2024, the Formula 4 chapter was closing.

Formula Regional was next.

Moving Up to Formula Regional

Rashid stepped into Formula Regional competition for 2025.

This was another jump.

Formula Regional sits above Formula 4 in the usual junior single-seater ladder and provides faster machinery, more technical racing and another test before Formula 3.

He raced with PREMA Racing in Europe.

He also competed in the Middle East.

His first year at the level brought podiums and useful race experience.

But an even bigger announcement arrived away from the race results.

Mercedes called.

Joining the Mercedes-AMG F1 Junior Programme

In 2025, Rashid joined the Mercedes-AMG F1 Junior Programme.

His official profile describes him as the first Middle Eastern driver selected for the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 junior setup.

This placed him inside a development programme connected directly to a Formula One team.

Mercedes kept him in its 2026 Junior Programme.

The programme works with young drivers as they move through karting and Formula racing.

Mercedes Driver Development Advisor Gwen Lagrue said the team had known Rashid since his early karting days before officially adding him to the programme in 2025.

So, yes, Formula One is still several racing levels away.

But he now has support from an F1 organisation while working towards it.

2026 Formula Regional Middle East Trophy

Rashid moved to R-ace GP for his 2026 programme.

The year started in the Formula Regional Middle East Trophy.

And it started well.

His official record lists three wins and four podiums during the Middle East campaign.

He remained involved in the championship fight until the end and finished runner-up.

That result gave him a strong start before the European season.

Then came another jump in form.

2026 FIA Formula Regional European Championship

The 2026 FIA Formula Regional European Championship became Rashid’s strongest European season so far.

He drove for R-ace GP.

His car carried number 71.

The championship used the new Tatuus T-326 Formula Regional car, and the field included young drivers from across the world.

Rashid started scoring big results almost immediately.

At the Red Bull Ring, he took his first win of the European campaign.

Then came Monza.

He started Race 2 from eighth and worked his way through the field to win.

It was his second victory.

Hungary brought another.

At the Hungaroring, Rashid took his first FIA FREC pole position and scored his third European win of 2026.

For a period, he led the championship standings.

He became the first Emirati driver to lead the FIA Formula Regional European Championship.

Pretty big moment.

At the halfway point, he held a 21-point advantage at the top of the table.

The later rounds became tougher.

Still, he entered the Hockenheim finale as one of four drivers mathematically able to take the championship.

Where Did Rashid Al Dhaheri Finish in 2026?

The FIA Formula Regional European Championship ended at Hockenheim in September 2026.

Emanuele Olivieri won the title.

Rashid finished fourth in the final championship standings with 181 points, according to the official FIA FREC standings.

His 2026 European season included:

• 3 race wins
• 8 podium finishes
• 1 pole position
• 1 fastest lap
• 4th in the championship

His three European victories came at the Red Bull Ring, Monza and Hungaroring.

That was his best European Formula Regional campaign to date.

Education Alongside Racing

Racing has taken up a huge part of Rashid’s childhood.

School still stayed in the picture.

He completed middle school at the Western Academy in Beijing.

After that, he moved towards online high-school study so he could keep learning while travelling for races.

In 2024, he said he was studying through the US Performance Academy, an online school set up for students with demanding athletic schedules.

That arrangement makes sense.

Race weeks can involve travel, preparation, practice, qualifying, racing, meetings and physical training.

There is not much spare time.

Family Support

Public interviews make one point very clear.

His family has backed his racing from the beginning.

They did not come from a professional motorsport background, yet they helped him start karting and later supported the move into European competition.

A 2023 interview also mentioned that he has three sisters.

His mother and sisters spent time living with him in Italy while he raced there.

During the Covid-19 travel restrictions, things became much harder. Rashid has spoken about spending around two years separated from his parents while continuing his racing work in Europe.

His parents’ names are not included here because reliable current public sources do not clearly confirm them.

Rashid Al Dhaheri’s Formula One Goal

Formula One is the target.

He has said this many times.

But there are still steps between Formula Regional and F1.

Drivers normally move through higher categories such as Formula 3 and Formula 2 while earning the points and experience needed for a Formula One Super Licence.

Rashid is currently working through that ladder.

Mercedes support helps.

Results matter more.

For now, his job is simple to explain: race, learn, win where possible and keep moving up.

What Is Next for Rashid Al Dhaheri?

As of September 25, 2026, a full 2027 racing programme has not been publicly confirmed.

His next reported major event is the FIA Formula Regional World Cup at the Macau Grand Prix, scheduled for November 19–22, 2026.

Macau is familiar territory.

He has raced there before.

What happens after that will depend on his confirmed 2027 programme.

Any claim that he has already secured an FIA Formula 3 or Formula 2 seat would be too early unless a team officially announces it.

Final Thought

Rashid Al Dhaheri started with a childhood interest at Yas Marina Circuit.

Now he races across Europe.

The steps are easy to see: karting, major WSK titles, Ferrari scouting, Formula 4 with PREMA, Formula Regional, race wins and a place in the Mercedes-AMG F1 Junior Programme.

He is still only 18.

There is more work ahead.

The Formula One goal is real, but it has not been reached yet. Right now, Rashid remains a Formula Regional racer building results one season at a time.

Frequently Asked Questions

How old is Rashid Al Dhaheri?

Rashid Al Dhaheri is 18 years old as of September 2026. He was born on April 8, 2008.

Where was Rashid Al Dhaheri born?

He was born in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

What nationality is Rashid Al Dhaheri?

He is Emirati and represents the United Arab Emirates in international motorsport.

Is Rashid Al Dhaheri a Formula One driver?

No. He is currently a Formula Regional driver. He is also part of the Mercedes-AMG F1 Junior Programme.

Which team does Rashid Al Dhaheri race for?

In 2026, he races for R-ace GP in Formula Regional competition.

Is Rashid Al Dhaheri part of Mercedes?

Yes. He joined the Mercedes-AMG F1 Junior Programme in 2025 and remained part of its 2026 driver lineup.

Did Rashid Al Dhaheri join the Ferrari Driver Academy?

No. He reached the 2022 Ferrari Driver Academy Scouting World Finals, but Tuukka Taponen was selected for the academy.

How many races did Rashid Al Dhaheri win in 2026 FREC?

He won three FIA Formula Regional European Championship races in 2026, at the Red Bull Ring, Monza and Hungaroring.

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