In a landmark development for regional motorsport, the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team has confirmed that 18-year-old Emirati driver Rashid Al Dhaheri will join the FIA Formula 3 Championship for the 2027 season. This promotion marks the first time a UAE national will compete in the series, representing a major step in the country’s push to develop top-tier racing talent on the global stage.
As a Mercedes-AMG F1 Junior Driver, Al Dhaheri is set to drive for the Dutch-based Van Amersfoort Racing (VAR). The team is widely recognized for its development of rising stars, having previously supported careers for high-profile drivers including Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc, Liam Lawson, and Oliver Bearman. Al Dhaheri will be one of only 30 competitors on the grid for the championship, which runs as a key part of the Formula One Grand Prix support programme.
The upcoming season will see the young Emirati racing across 10 countries spanning four continents. His debut is scheduled for the season opener at the Bahrain International Circuit from March 12 to 14, 2027. Following this, he will compete at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit in Saudi Arabia from March 19 to 21, an event that will also mark the championship’s inaugural visit to that venue. Before competing in the second round at Jeddah Corniche Circuit in Saudi Arabia from 19th to 21st March, marking, al Dhaheri will make his FIA Formula 3 debut at Bahrain International Circuit from 12th to 14th March 2027. He remained in contention for the title until the final round.
Al Dhaheri’s path to Formula 3 follows an extensive progression through the ranks. After joining the Mercedes-AMG F1 Junior Programme in 2025, he built on a strong foundation of karting success—where he secured multiple World Series Karting titles and the Macau International Kart Grand Prix. Transitioning into single-seaters, he competed in Formula 4 between 2023 and 2024, earning five victories and 14 podium finishes. His 2026 campaign was particularly notable, as he became the first Emirati to win a Formula Regional race at Yas Marina Circuit, while also claiming the Vice-Championship title in the Formula Regional Middle East Trophy with three wins and four podiums. Recording three victories, eight podium finishes, one pole position and a fastest lap, al Dhaheri also delivered an impressive season in the 2026 FIA Formula Regional European Championship.
Reflecting on the career milestone, Ethara CEO Saif Rashid Al Noaimi stated that the progression of Emirati drivers onto the world stage underscores the UAE’s significant investment in motorsport infrastructure and grassroots talent cultivation. Ethara, which operates Yas Marina Circuit and organizes the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, has supported Al Dhaheri since his early Formula 4 days and continues to endorse his role as a Yas Heat Ambassador. According to saif Rashid Al Noaimi, CEO of Ethara, the operator of Yas Marina Circuit and the official organiser and promoter of the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix,, The continued progression of Emirati talent onto.
Al Dhaheri expressed pride in representing his nation within the Formula One framework, emphasizing that his primary focus is now the intensive preparation required for his 2027 debut. Beyond his personal goals, he stated he hopes his journey serves as an inspiration for other young drivers in the UAE to aim for the pinnacle of international motorsport. Saying his focus is now on preparing as strongly as possible for the 2027 season, he described the move as an important milestone in his career.
