Hamda Al Qubaisi: The Emirati Racing Star Who Made Formula 4 History

Introduction

Hamda Al Qubaisi is a professional Emirati racing driver from Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. She made history in June 2021 by becoming the first woman to finish on the overall podium of the Italian Formula 4 Championship.

That was a big moment.

But her story started much earlier. She grew up watching her father race. Her older sister followed the same sport. Soon, she wanted to try it herself.

Today, she is known for her Formula 4 achievements, four F1 Academy race victories in 2023 and her work with Red Bull Racing in 2024. She later moved into sports-car racing alongside her sister.

Quick Facts

Detail	Information
Full Name	Hamda Al Qubaisi
Arabic Name	حمدة القبيسي
Date of Birth	8 August 2002
Age	24 years (October 2026)
Birthplace	Abu Dhabi, UAE
Nationality	Emirati
Profession	Racing Driver
Father	Khaled Al Qubaisi
Sister	Amna Al Qubaisi
University	Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi
Career Start	Karting, around 2015
First Single-Seater Series	Italian Formula 4, 2019
Famous Achievement	First woman on the overall Italian F4 podium
F1 Academy Team	MP Motorsport
Red Bull Racing Support	2024
2023 F1 Academy Result	Third place, four wins
2024 F1 Academy Result	Fifth place
2025 Racing Team	Team Virage
2025 Championship	Ligier European Series
Instagram	@hamdaalqubaisi_official

Early Life and Childhood

Hamda grew up in Abu Dhabi. Racing was familiar in her household. Her father already had experience in international motorsport.

Still, she had different interests initially.

She did not immediately see herself racing. Watching her sister changed that feeling.

Amna started karting first. Hamda watched her training and competitions. Little by little, the sport became more interesting.

Eventually, she wanted to race too.

She entered a racing school and earned a place in its academy. She began karting at around 12 years old.

Her first championship was tough. In a 2024 Goodwood interview, she recalled almost being lapped during her opening race.

But she kept learning.

By the last race of that same championship, she had improved enough to win.

That early change showed her progress. She was still young, but she was already learning how to handle competition.

Family Background and Racing Influence

Motorsport runs through her family.

Her father, Khaled Al Qubaisi, is an Emirati businessman and former professional endurance racer. He competed internationally, including at the famous 24 Hours of Le Mans.

His racing experience helped his daughters.

He understood the training involved. He also knew how expensive professional racing could become.

Her father and early support

Khaled provided important financial and practical support.

He helped arrange professional training and testing opportunities. The family also worked with established European racing teams.

Yet supporting two drivers was expensive.

Hamda discussed these challenges during her Goodwood interview in October 2024. She openly recognised the advantage of having family support in a sport where funding often determines which opportunities are available.

Her older sister

Amna Al Qubaisi was born on 28 March 2000. She is also a professional Emirati racer.

The sisters share a close connection. They train, compete and learn together.

Of course, they are competitive too.

Both raced for MP Motorsport during the 2023 and 2024 F1 Academy seasons. Later, they shared the same sports prototype in European competition.

Their relationship has remained closely connected with their sporting careers.

Education and University Life

Racing is only part of her life.

Hamda has also continued her studies while competing in international championships.

In June 2026, Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi published an update about her education.

The university confirmed she was studying for a Bachelor’s degree in Records Management and Archival Science.

Her academic interest is quite different from racing.

She enjoys history and learning how important documents are preserved. Visits to the National Archives and Library helped develop that interest.

At the time of the university’s report, she was approaching graduation and considering future internship opportunities.

A completed degree has not been publicly confirmed in the sources reviewed.

The university also described the support she received while balancing education with racing.

For someone travelling between countries and competitions, that balance requires careful planning.

How Her Professional Racing Career Started

Her racing journey began with karting.

Between 2015 and 2018, she competed in events in the UAE and abroad.

She gained experience against international drivers. She also learned how different circuits and weather conditions affected performance.

In 2016, she represented the UAE in the CIK-FIA Karting Academy Trophy.

That experience helped prepare her for European competition.

After several years in karting, she moved into single-seater racing.

Italian Formula 4 debut in 2019

In 2019, she entered the Italian Formula 4 Championship.

She raced with the Prema programme and gained experience at European circuits, including Red Bull Ring and Monza.

It was a big change.

Formula 4 cars were faster and more demanding than karts. Drivers needed stronger technical knowledge and better car control.

She spent time testing and learning.

There were difficult races, but the experience helped her prepare for the following seasons.

Formula 4 UAE Success

Her progress became clearer in 2020.

She entered the Formula 4 UAE Championship and won three races during that season.

She finished fourth in the championship.

Then she returned in 2021.

Once again, she secured three race victories and finished fourth in the standings.

Across those two seasons, she recorded six wins and 13 podium finishes.

These results proved she could compete against experienced drivers in mixed-gender racing.

They also gave her confidence before one of the biggest moments of her career.

Historic Italian Formula 4 Podium in 2021

On 5 June 2021, Hamda achieved a historic result at Misano World Circuit in Italy.

She finished third in an Italian Formula 4 race.

Leonardo Fornaroli won that race, while Oliver Bearman finished second.

Hamda took the remaining podium place.

She became the first woman in the championship’s history to finish on the outright podium.

This was a major achievement.

It was not a separate women’s category. She finished third among the full field of competitors.

The result received attention from motorsport publications and racing organisations.

The official ACI Sport race report confirmed the historic finish.

Hamda later described this result as one of her proudest achievements.

Formula Regional Career in 2022

After Formula 4, she entered higher-level single-seater racing.

In 2022, she competed in the Formula Regional Asian Championship and the Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine.

She raced with Prema-associated teams.

The competition was demanding.

The cars were heavier and more powerful. Adapting to their handling took time.

She faced difficulties during the season and did not score championship points in either series.

Still, the experience mattered.

She had the opportunity to race against strong international fields and improve her technical understanding.

FIA Formula 3 testing opportunity

In September 2022, she also joined an official FIA Formula 3 testing programme for female drivers at Magny-Cours in France.

She participated alongside British racer Abbi Pulling.

The test included different driving exercises and race preparation.

However, she did not become a full-time FIA Formula 3 championship driver.

Her participation was a testing opportunity rather than a championship entry.

A Serious Injury Before F1 Academy

The beginning of 2023 was difficult.

During the final race of the Formula 4 UAE season, she suffered a serious accident.

Her right arm was badly injured.

According to F1 Academy, she broke her radius bone and fractured her wrist. Surgery was required, and doctors initially expected a long recovery.

This created a problem.

She had already signed to race in the new F1 Academy championship.

Her recovery became a major priority. She worked through rehabilitation and returned to racing sooner than initially expected.

Just 75 days after the injury, she stood on the top step of an F1 Academy podium.

It was an impressive return.

F1 Academy Breakthrough in 2023

The inaugural F1 Academy season gave her another opportunity.

She joined MP Motorsport alongside her older sister and Emely de Heus.

The championship brought together female drivers competing in equal-specification single-seater cars.

Hamda made a strong impression.

She won four races during the 2023 season, including two victories at Zandvoort in the Netherlands.

She also recorded wins at Valencia and Austin.

Her performance placed her among the leading drivers throughout the championship.

By the end of the season, she had collected 207 points and finished third in the standings.

Marta García won the championship, with Léna Bühler finishing second.

Four wins in one season marked an important achievement in her racing career.

Red Bull Racing Partnership in 2024

In February 2024, Red Bull announced its support for three drivers competing in F1 Academy.

Hamda was selected to represent Red Bull Racing.

Her sister represented the RB team, while Emely de Heus raced with Red Bull support.

The sisters continued driving for MP Motorsport.

The programme offered professional racing support and greater public attention.

Hamda wanted another strong season.

But 2024 brought different challenges.

She scored points regularly and reached the podium three times, yet she did not win a race.

She finished fifth in the final standings with 133 points.

It was below her third-place result from 2023.

Still, she gained further experience at circuits connected with Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends.

Her F1 Academy career ended after the 2024 season.

Did she race in Formula 1?

No. She represented Red Bull Racing in F1 Academy but has not competed in a Formula 1 World Championship Grand Prix.

The two championships are different.

Saudi Arabian Formula 4 Competition

During 2024, she also competed in the Saudi Arabian Formula 4 Championship.

She drove for Altawkilat Meritus.GP.

Her campaign included a race victory and several podium finishes.

She ended the championship fourth in the standings with 116.5 points.

The series gave her further race time outside F1 Academy.

Moving Into Sports-Car Racing in 2025

After two seasons in F1 Academy, she changed racing categories.

In 2025, she joined Team Virage in the Ligier European Series.

She shared the number 88 Ligier JS P4 with Amna.

This was a different racing experience.

Instead of competing in a traditional single-seater, she drove a sports prototype designed for longer races.

The sisters shared driving duties.

They needed to handle pit stops, race strategy and changes between drivers.

Their season included three podium finishes.

At Barcelona, they finished third in Race 2. At Silverstone, they earned second place in Race 2.

Hamda also claimed pole position during qualifying at Silverstone.

According to the Ligier European Series, that qualifying achievement made her only the second woman to secure pole position in the championship’s history.

The sisters finished fourth in the 2025 JS P4 drivers’ championship with 104 points.

They showed they could compete in another major form of motorsport.

Racing Achievements and Career Results

Year	Competition	Main Result
2016	CIK-FIA Karting Academy Trophy	UAE representative
2019	Italian Formula 4	Single-seater debut
2020	Formula 4 UAE	Fourth place, three wins
2021	Formula 4 UAE	Fourth place, three wins
2021	Italian Formula 4	Historic third-place finish
2022	Formula Regional Asian	Championship participation
2022	Formula Regional European	Championship participation
2022	FIA Formula 3	Official test
2023	F1 Academy	Third place, four wins
2024	F1 Academy	Fifth place, 133 points
2024	Saudi Arabian Formula 4	Fourth place
2025	Ligier European Series	Fourth place, three podiums

Her strongest single-seater season came in 2023.

But her 2021 Italian Formula 4 podium remains one of her most historically important results.

Personal Life and Engagement

Hamda has shared some personal milestones publicly.

In September 2024, Harper’s Bazaar Arabia reported her engagement to Saudi racing driver Omar Aldereyaan.

The announcement appeared through social media.

Omar has also competed in karting and Formula 4 racing.

Both share an interest in motorsport.

However, no reliable confirmation of a subsequent marriage was found in the sources reviewed.

Her current marital status should not be assumed from the earlier engagement announcement.

Height, Fitness and Other Interests

Hamda is approximately 4 feet 11 inches tall, or around 150 centimetres, according to a 2024 Goodwood interview.

Her height has sometimes required changes to racing-car cockpit arrangements.

For example, she has discussed the use of pedal extensions.

She also has experience in gymnastics.

Before concentrating on professional racing, she spent years practising the sport.

Gymnastics helped her build physical control and coordination.

A few interesting personal facts

In an F1 Academy interview published in October 2024, she shared several lighter details about her life.

• Her favourite circuit is Yas Marina Circuit.
• Her racing number 8 relates to her birthday.
• She enjoys tiramisu.
• She has named the animated film Mulan among her favourites.
• She uses music and warm-up exercises before racing.
• She has kept particular racing socks as lucky equipment.

These details show a more relaxed side of the driver beyond competitive racing.

Netflix Appearance

Hamda also appeared in F1: The Academy, a Netflix documentary series released in May 2025.

The programme followed the 2024 F1 Academy season.

It included racing action and stories about the drivers’ personal experiences.

Viewers could see the challenges faced by female racers competing internationally.

The documentary also brought more public attention to the championship and its competitors.

Latest Update in 2026

Her most recently verified complete racing championship in the reviewed sources was the 2025 Ligier European Series.

No new full-season race entry for 2026 could be reliably established from those sources.

Her university education received public attention in June 2026, when Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi discussed her studies and interest in archival science.

For now, her future racing programme should be confirmed through official team or championship announcements.

Net Worth and Income

No reliable public figure confirms her personal net worth or annual racing income.

Professional motorsport often involves sponsorship agreements, family funding and team support.

However, these arrangements do not provide a verified estimate of an individual driver’s wealth.

Any exact net-worth or salary figure without financial evidence would be speculative.

Why Her Career Matters

Her story is connected with a wider change in motorsport.

Women have historically faced limited opportunities in professional racing, especially in higher-level single-seater championships.

Hamda’s early career developed in a sport with relatively few female competitors from the Gulf region.

She faced tough competition.

Some seasons went well. Others were more difficult.

Yet her results are part of the public racing record.

The Misano podium in 2021 showed what she could achieve in an outright mixed-gender championship.

Her F1 Academy victories added further evidence of her racing ability.

And her move into prototype racing showed a willingness to learn another discipline.

Final Thought

Hamda Al Qubaisi has already built an impressive record in international motorsport.

She started karting at 12. Later, she raced in European Formula 4, Formula Regional and F1 Academy.

Her career has included wins, difficult seasons and a serious injury.

But she kept racing.

Her family helped her start. Her results helped establish her own name.

With experience in both single-seaters and sports prototypes, she has a racing background that goes beyond one championship.

Her next confirmed racing chapter remains to be seen.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Who is Hamda Al Qubaisi?

She is an Emirati professional racing driver. She is known for her Italian Formula 4 podium, four F1 Academy race wins and Red Bull Racing support in 2024.

2. How old is she in 2026?

She is 24 years old. She was born on 8 August 2002.

3. Who is her father?

Her father is Khaled Al Qubaisi, an Emirati businessman and former international endurance racing driver.

4. Who is her sister?

Her older sister is Amna Al Qubaisi. She is also a professional racing driver. Both sisters competed together in F1 Academy and the Ligier European Series.

5. Did she race for Red Bull?

She represented Red Bull Racing in the 2024 F1 Academy championship while driving for MP Motorsport. She did not race in Formula 1.

6. Which university did she attend?

Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi confirmed in June 2026 that she was studying Records Management and Archival Science.

7. Is she married?

Her engagement to Saudi racing driver Omar Aldereyaan was publicly reported in September 2024. A later marriage has not been reliably confirmed.

8. What is her biggest racing achievement?

One of her biggest achievements came on 5 June 2021. She became the first woman to finish on the overall Italian Formula 4 podium, taking third place at Misano.

Ae Herald