Emirati driver Rashid Al Dhaheri will step up to the FIA F3 Championship in 2027 with Van Amersfoort Racing (VAR), following an impressive campaign in the FIA Formula Regional European Championship (FREC).
The 18-year-old Mercedes-AMG Formula 1 Junior Team driver joins the Dutch outfit after finishing fourth in the 2026 FREC standings, securing three victories, eight podiums and one pole position. His promotion follows two seasons in Formula Regional, during which he established himself among the category’s leading competitors.
Al Dhaheri completes VAR’s three-driver line-up for 2027, joining returning driver Enzo Deligny and fellow newcomer Yevan David. He will begin preparations with the team during the official post-season tests ahead of his first campaign in Formula 3.
Al Dhaheri steps up to F3 with VAR in 2027 after successful Formula Regional campaign
Al Dhaheri enters FIA F3 following his strongest season in Formula Regional, having challenged for the 2026 European Championship with R-ace GP.
The Emirati driver established himself as an early title contender at the Red Bull Ring, where he finished second in the opening race before claiming his maiden FREC victory in Race 2. He subsequently maintained his competitive form throughout the opening half of the campaign, collecting further podium finishes and moving into the Championship lead.
His second victory came at Monza, where he charged from eighth on the grid to win an incident-filled Race 2. The performance highlighted his ability to recover positions and capitalise on opportunities during challenging race conditions.
Al Dhaheri then secured his third victory at the Hungaroring, converting his maiden pole position into a lights-to-flag victory in Race 2. The result extended his Championship advantage to 21 points at the halfway stage.
However, a difficult second half of the campaign ultimately prevented him from securing the title. Despite remaining among the leading contenders, Al Dhaheri lost ground to his rivals during the Paul Ricard and Imola rounds.
He entered the Hockenheim finale as one of four drivers still mathematically capable of claiming the Championship. Although he secured his eighth podium in the penultimate race, he eventually finished fourth overall, behind Champion Emanuele Olivieri, Sebastian Wheldon and Kean Nakamura-Berta.
Nevertheless, his performances represented significant progress from his rookie Formula Regional campaign in 2025, when he finished eighth in the standings.
Al Dhaheri aims to continue development with VAR in 2027 F3 rookie campaign
Al Dhaheri welcomed the opportunity to continue his development with VAR, acknowledging the importance of the promotion while emphasising his commitment to preparing for the challenges ahead.
“I’m very proud to be taking the next step into FIA Formula 3 with Van Amersfoort Racing. It is an important milestone in my journey, but I know the hard work is only beginning. I’m proud to represent the UAE and the wider region at this level, and I’m looking forward to learning, improving and giving everything I have on and off the track. Every step has to be earned, and my focus now is on preparing as strongly as possible for 2027. I’m grateful to everyone who has supported me and helped make this opportunity possible.”
Karting success and Formula 4 experience provide strong foundation
Al Dhaheri’s progression into FIA F3 follows a successful junior racing career that began in international karting.
The Emirati driver secured several notable karting achievements, including the WSK Champions Cup and WSK Super Master Series OK-Junior titles in 2021. He subsequently continued competing internationally before transitioning into single-seater racing in 2023.
Al Dhaheri spent two seasons competing full-time in the Italian Formula 4 Championship, gaining experience against competitive international fields. During this period, he also contested the Formula 4 UAE Championship, finishing fourth overall in 2024.
His performances helped establish a foundation for his move into Formula Regional in 2025, when he joined R-ace GP and became part of the Mercedes-AMG Formula 1 Junior Programme.
During his rookie European Formula Regional campaign, Al Dhaheri secured three podium finishes and placed eighth in the final standings. He also continued gaining experience in the Middle East, competing in the regional championship alongside his European commitments.
His development continued into 2026, when he finished runner-up in the Formula Regional Middle East Trophy after securing three victories and four podium finishes.
Combined with his subsequent performances in FREC, those results demonstrated his growing competitiveness in Formula Regional machinery and helped secure his promotion to the next level of the FIA single-seater pathway.
VAR completes 2027 line-up with Al Dhaheri signing
Al Dhaheri becomes the final driver confirmed for Van Amersfoort Racing’s 2027 FIA F3 campaign, completing a line-up that combines returning experience with new talent.
French driver Enzo Deligny will remain with the team for a second season after finishing 16th in the 2026 Drivers’ Championship. Deligny secured a podium on his F3 debut in Melbourne, giving him valuable experience to build upon in 2027.
Meanwhile, Sri Lankan driver Yevan David will join VAR after completing his rookie F3 campaign with AIX Racing. David finished 18th in the standings and claimed a podium at Silverstone, with his move to VAR for 2027 providing an opportunity to build on his first year in the category.
The addition of Al Dhaheri therefore completes a three-driver line-up featuring two competitors with previous F3 experience alongside one of the leading drivers from the 2026 Formula Regional season.
Joyce confident in Al Dhaheri’s abilities behind the wheel
VAR Team Principal Brad Joyce expressed confidence in Al Dhaheri’s potential, highlighting his strong FREC performances and ability to compete consistently near the front.
“We’re looking forward to welcome Rashid to Van Amersfoort Racing. He has had a very strong season in Formula Regional, with three wins and eight podiums, finishing in fourth place in the championship. He has shown his pace throughout the year and has been able to fight at the front of a very competitive field. That gives us a good starting point as he steps up to Formula 3. We’re looking forward to working with him during the post season tests and preparing for his first F3 season together.”
The team will now focus on integrating Al Dhaheri into its F3 programme as preparations begin for 2027. The upcoming post-season tests will provide an opportunity for the Emirati driver to familiarise himself with the machinery while establishing a working relationship with his new engineers.
Al Dhaheri prepares for new challenge in FIA F3
Al Dhaheri’s move to FIA F3 represents another important milestone in his progression towards the higher levels of international single-seater racing.
Although he has already demonstrated his competitiveness in Formula Regional, the step up will introduce new challenges. He must adapt to more powerful machinery, different aerodynamic characteristics and an increasingly competitive field, while also learning several circuits that feature on the F3 calendar.
However, his experience across karting, Formula 4 and Formula Regional provides a strong foundation for the transition. His three victories and eight podiums in 2026 also demonstrate his ability to challenge for strong results against highly competitive junior fields.
With VAR completing its 2027 line-up, Al Dhaheri will now focus on making the most of the post-season testing programme before his first F3 campaign. The move offers the Mercedes junior an opportunity to continue developing his skills while representing the UAE at one of the most important levels of the FIA single-seater ladder.
