FRME | 2026 | Round 1 | Yas Marina | Qualifying | - Motorsport

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Qualifying at Yas Marina delivered an intense and unpredictable start to the 2026 FRME season, as the new Tatuus F3 T-326 made its competitive debut. Across two contrasting sessions, changing track conditions, disrupted running and late drama shaped the grid for the opening races of the weekend. While Alexander Abkhazava emerged from a chaotic Qualifying 1 to secure pole position for Race 1 by the finest of margins, Rashid Al Dhaheri responded emphatically in Qualifying 2, producing a commanding lap to claim pole for Race 3. Consequently, the opening round showcased the depth of competition in the field and set the stage for a closely fought weekend in Abu Dhabi.

2026 FRME: Round 1: Yas Marina Circuit: Qualifying 1

Just hours after Pinnacle Motorsport’s Alex Powell topped the weekend’s only Free Practice session with a 1:48.178—beating ART Grand Prix’s Kabir Anurag and Trident’s Maksimilian Popov—Qualifying began at the Yas Marina Circuit. Consequently, all 32 drivers took to the track for the first competitive session of the 2026 FRME Trophy and the inaugural outing of the new Tatuus F3 T-326 era.

Early disruption sees Wheldon out of Qualifying

However, the opening minutes of Qualifying 1 suffered immediate disruption. A Full Course Yellow appeared just as drivers exited the pit lane, forcing the field to slow while marshals recovered the stricken car of Mumbai Falcons Racing Limited’s Sebastian Wheldon. As a result, Wheldon’s damaged car ruled him out of further running, condemning the American to the back of the grid for at least two of the three races and placing his participation in Qualifying 2 in doubt.

With just under 11 minutes remaining, the green flag finally flew. Drivers then pushed hard to bring their tyres up to temperature ahead of the decisive final laps. Although Kean Nakamura-Berta initially topped the timing screens with a 2:41.735, lap times quickly fell as conditions normalised.

Times rapidly tumble under green flag conditions

As the first representative laps came in, MP Motorsport’s Alexander Abkhazava surged to the top with a 1:53.430, ahead of Powell and Salim Hanna. Soon after, Popov improved to a 1:49.525 to take second, before Rodin Motorsport’s Maxim Rehm went fastest with a 1:49.388. Meanwhile, Trident’s Kai Daryanani slotted into third behind his team-mate.

However, drama followed when Nakamura-Berta lost his lap time for exceeding track limits at Turn 1. Taking advantage, Powell jumped to the top with a 1:48.905, while Christian Ho moved into second ahead of Rashid Al Dhaheri. Shortly afterwards, 2025 GB3 Champion Alex Ninovic improved to claim P2, only for Taito Kato to snatch provisional pole with a 1:48.873. As a result, Abkhazava dropped to fourth. Importantly, Al Dhaheri avoided a fall down the order by responding immediately with a new fastest lap.

Late action sees Abhazava claim pole position

With just over three minutes left, Jules Rousell retired due to an engine issue. At the same time, Popov climbed to the top with a 1:48.836, narrowly edging Powell, who settled for second just 0.02 seconds adrift. Nakamura-Berta then delivered a strong lap to rise to fifth.

In the closing minute, Abkhazava delivered a decisive lap of 1:48.713 to take provisional pole. Kato followed closely in second, just over a tenth behind. However, the final seconds brought more changes as Al Dhaheri leapt to P2 with a 1:48.714, missing pole by a mere 0.001 seconds. Nakamura-Berta also improved to claim provisional third, before Popov responded at the chequered flag with a 1:48.732.

Ultimately, a yellow flag at Turn 5 ended the session abruptly after Alceu Feldmann Neto spun and came to rest facing the wrong direction, freezing the final order.

Qualifying 1 Top 10:

Alexander Abkhazava
Rashid Al Dhaheri
Maksimilian Popov
Kean Nakamura-Berta
Taito Kato
Alex Powell
Christian Ho
Alex Ninovic
Andrija Kostic
Artem Severiukhin

2026 FRME: Round 1: Yas Marina Circuit: Qualifying 2

Minutes later, Qualifying 2 began with 30 drivers returning to the Yas Marina Circuit to fight for pole position for Race 3. In contrast to Qualifying 1, the session ran without early disruption. As a result, drivers used the opening minutes to bring their tyres back up to temperature and gradually build pace. Although Alexander Abkhazava initially led ahead of Alex Powell, lap times in the first half of the session remained well adrift of those set earlier, as the field focused on preparation rather than outright speed.

With just under eight minutes remaining, Kabir Anurag set the early benchmark with a 1:48.796. He moved ahead of Gowda in second with a 1:49.542 and Raber in third with a 1:49.688. Shortly afterwards, Alceu Feldmann Neto climbed to fifth, marking a strong recovery following his difficult end to Qualifying 1.

Momentum builds mid-session as Al Dhaheri takes control

Soon after, with just over seven minutes on the clock, Kean Nakamura-Berta jumped to the top with a 1:48.305. However, Alex Ninovic quickly responded by going fastest with a 1:48.257. Maksimilian Popov then improved to third on a 1:48.386, while Rashid Al Dhaheri followed in fourth with a 1:48.473. Powell, the first of the leading runners to set a new personal best, held fifth place. Meanwhile, Raber dropped to 30th after losing his lap time.

With just over four and a half minutes remaining, Al Dhaheri delivered a decisive lap of 1:48.148 to claim provisional pole position. At the same time, Jules Roussell returned to the track after his Qualifying 1 engine failure, aiming to salvage his weekend with a late lap. Elsewhere, Chi reached tenth with a 1:48.640, while Macedo improved to ninth with a 1:48.568.

Late red flag freezes the order

Entering the final minute, Al Dhaheri remained on top ahead of Ninovic and Nakamura-Berta. Powell followed in fourth, with Popov fifth, Christian Ho sixth and Taito Kato seventh. Anurag sat eighth, ahead of Macedo in ninth, while Chi completed the top ten. A late red flag, triggered when Jules Roussell stopped on track, brought the session to an early end and confirmed the final positions.