Rashid Al Dhaheri: Runner-up in Formula 1 Regional ahead of important season

The Emirati driver led the championship in 3 of the 4 rounds and arrived at the Qatar finale with the title firmly within reach. A handful of points ultimately separated him from the crown after a dramatic closing weekend.

The 2026 winter campaign marked a breakthrough season for Al Dhaheri. In a grid regarded as one of the most competitive in recent years, featuring leading junior talents from Europe, Asia and the Americas, he emerged as the benchmark across much of the championship. He was also the only MENA representative in the field.

Across the season, Al Dhaheri combined front row qualifying pace with strong race management and tyre discipline. He controlled the standings through Dubai and Lusail and entered the final round with the advantage in his hands.

The defining chapter of his campaign came at Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi. Rashid's home track.

Across 2 rounds at the venue, Al Dhaheri claimed 3 victories, becoming the first MENA driver to win races in Formula Regional. Round 1 delivered a dominant opening win. Round 2 followed with 2 further victories in front of home support.

Those results were built on strong qualifying performances, decisive starts and measured race control under pressure. For the first time in the championship’s history, a driver from the region was not only competing at the front but dictating the pace of an international field.

The momentum carried into the final round in Qatar, where the title remained within reach.

Round 4 at Lusail proved decisive. Al Dhaheri finished P6 in Race 1 and P7 in Race 2 amid tightly contested battles. Technical issues on Friday disrupted his momentum and cost valuable points. Despite fighting through the field across the weekend, the deficit proved too great in the final laps of the final race.

He secured the 2026 Vice Championship after leading the standings in 3 rounds, losing the title by only a few points.

The result confirms his status as the most successful MENA driver in Formula Regional Middle East history and positions him strongly on the FIA single seater ladder.

His focus now shifts to Europe. At the end of April, Al Dhaheri begins the FIA Formula Regional European Championship, an 8 round series held on Formula 1 circuits and widely regarded as a key pathway toward FIA Formula 3.

The 2026 winter season may have ended just short of the title, but it established Al Dhaheri as a genuine contender on the international stage.