FRME | 2026 | Round 2 | Yas Marina

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Race 1 of Round 2 of the 2026 FRME Trophy delivered drama, penalties and a late red flag under the Yas Marina lights. Rashid Al Dhaheri seized the lead at the start and never relinquished it, controlling the race despite pressure, track-limit scrutiny and a disrupted final phase. The R-ace GP driver claimed a commanding victory ahead of pole-sitter Kean Nakamura-Berta, with Alex Powell completing the podium after a hard-fought drive.

Front-row duel sets the early tone

Kean Nakamura-Berta started from pole for Mumbai Falcons Racing alongside Al Dhaheri, with Sebastian Wheldon and Alex Powell lining up directly behind. When the lights went out, Nakamura-Berta launched cleanly, but Al Dhaheri reacted even faster. He dived to the inside at Turn 1 and powered through to take the lead, resisting Nakamura-Berta’s attempt to close the door.

Behind them, Powell swept past Wheldon to secure third, leaving Wheldon to settle into fourth as the field streamed through the opening corners. Further back, early skirmishes unfolded as drivers jostled for position, with Alex Ninovic narrowly avoiding the wall during a tense exchange.

Early stability as track limits loom large

After a frenetic opening phase, the race settled into a rhythm. Al Dhaheri built a gap of over a second to Nakamura-Berta, while Powell held third ahead of a frustrated Wheldon, who immediately began to flirt with track-limit warnings. Yuki Sano and Artem Severiukhin completed the top six, running comfortably but under increasing scrutiny.

As the clock ticked down, track limits emerged as the defining theme of the race. Wheldon received multiple warnings, while Severiukhin and Francisco Macedo also edged closer to penalties. The Corkscrew proved particularly punishing, forcing several drivers to adjust their approach.

Mid-race pressure and penalties

With just over half the race remaining, Al Dhaheri continued to extend his advantage, while Nakamura-Berta focused on matching his pace rather than attacking. Both drivers traded fastest laps, underlining their control at the front.

Meanwhile, Wheldon intensified his attack on Powell, exploiting fading tyres to apply sustained pressure. Race Control, however, issued him a black-and-white flag, placing his race under immediate threat. Elsewhere, Matteo Giaccardi received a 10-second penalty for gaining an advantage at Turn 7, compounding a difficult evening.

As the midfield battles intensified, Severiukhin and Macedo also received black-and-white flags, further underlining the relentless nature of the track-limit enforcement.

Red flag halts escalating battles

With just under nine minutes remaining, the race took a dramatic turn. Alceu Feldmann Neto flipped his car after contact with Yuhao Fu, prompting Race Control to deploy the red flag immediately. Marshals and medical personnel responded swiftly, extracting Feldmann Neto safely and transporting him to the medical centre as a precaution.

After reviewing the incident, officials issued Fu a 10-second penalty for causing a collision, while Enea Frey received a separate five-second penalty for another incident earlier in the race.

Late restart sparks final chaos

Following a lengthy delay, the race resumed behind the Safety Car before returning to green-flag conditions with under four minutes remaining. Al Dhaheri timed the restart perfectly, instantly rebuilding his advantage over Nakamura-Berta.

Behind them, Powell defended stoutly from Wheldon, while fierce battles erupted deeper in the field. Jan Przyrowski and Ninovic clashed repeatedly over P12, drawing several other drivers into a near four-wide moment at the apex. Elsewhere, Christian Ho passed Frey after a wheel-to-wheel exchange.

As pressure mounted, Nakamura-Berta received a black-and-white flag, while Sano closed in on Wheldon. Officials then issued Wheldon a five-second penalty for track-limit violations, effectively ending his podium challenge.

Al Dhaheri seals a commanding victory

Al Dhaheri crossed the line with a comfortable margin, completing a controlled and mature drive to secure victory. Nakamura-Berta followed in second despite late pressure and warnings, while Powell held firm to claim third.

Further drama unfolded on the final lap when Reza Seewooruthun hit the barriers, although the incident did not affect the outcome at the front. With all drivers safely accounted for, Al Dhaheri emerged as the clear winner of a demanding and incident-filled race.