Rashid Al Dhaheri: Full focus on Misano FRECA season opener

Al Dhaheri marked his birthday on 8 April with his Prema Racing team following two productive official test days at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. It was a symbolic moment for the rising Middle Eastern star, who begins his rookie FRECA campaign this season after signing with the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Junior Team in March.

After a busy March, April’s schedule got busier as it took the young Emirati driver across four European circuits. After the Barcelona test, he completed further sessions at Misano and Paul Ricard. The Barcelona test featured warm and stable conditions, giving teams a valuable opportunity to refine setups.

Rashid focused on gathering data on the first day, before showcasing strong one-lap speed in a qualifying simulation and fastest-on-track race pace on day two.

The team reported: "During the qualifying simulation, Rashid delivered an impressive lap time, showcasing strong one-lap speed. In the race simulation that followed, he demonstrated consistent and competitive pace, emerging as the fastest driver on track in terms of race performance."

In Misano, variable conditions added complexity, with rain playing a role across both days. The test held added significance as it took place at the same circuit that will host the opening race of the season. Despite the mixed weather and a restricted tyre allocation, Rashid impressed in the wet and gained crucial race weekend preparation.

At Paul Ricard, he completed the final leg of April’s testing programme, capping off what team insiders described as a well-rounded and strategically valuable month.

Earlier in the month, Rashid travelled to Bahrain to attend the Formula 1 Grand Prix as a guest of the Mercedes F1 Team. The visit allowed him to shadow the team across the race weekend and gain direct insights into operations at the highest level of the sport.

He also spent time with Mercedes protégé and close friend Kimi Antonelli, reflecting on their parallel journeys: "Kimi and I have known each other for years. We have been training and racing together since we were five years old, and over time, a strong friendship has grown between us and our families. I wish him all the best and hope that one day we will race side by side again."

Full focus now on Misano. Rashid’s preparations are now complete as he prepares to line up on the FRECA grid for Round 1 at Misano (2–4 May), followed by Round 2 at Spa-Francorchamps (16–18 May).

As the only Middle Eastern representative in this season’s field, Al Dhaheri enters the championship with growing confidence, high-level support from Mercedes and Prema Racing, and competitive pace already demonstrated in testing.

With a packed calendar and his FRECA debut imminent, Rashid Al Dhaheri’s 2025 European campaign is officially underway.