Hamda Al Qubaisi: Emirati Racing Driver Breaking Barriers
From Formula 4 history to F1 Academy victories, Hamda Al Qubaisi has become one of the most recognised young racing drivers from the United Arab Emirates.
Introduction
Hamda Al Qubaisi is an Emirati racing driver from Abu Dhabi. She is known for competing in Formula 4, Formula Regional, F1 Academy and European prototype racing.
Her biggest achievements include finishing third in the first F1 Academy championship, winning four races during that 2023 season and becoming the first woman to claim an overall podium in the Italian Formula 4 Championship.
She represented Red Bull Racing in F1 Academy during 2024 while driving for MP Motorsport. In 2025, she moved into the Ligier European Series with Team Virage and shared the No. 88 Ligier JS P4 with her older sister, Amna Al Qubaisi.
Hamda is not a Formula 1 race driver. However, her connection with F1 Academy and Red Bull Racing has made her name familiar to Formula 1 fans around the world.
Hamda Al Qubaisi Quick Facts
| Detail | Verified Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Hamda Al Qubaisi |
| Date of birth | 8 August 2002 |
| Age | 23 as of July 2026 |
| Birthplace | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates |
| Nationality | Emirati |
| Profession | Racing driver |
| Known for | F1 Academy wins and Italian F4 history |
| 2023 F1 Academy result | Third place |
| 2023 race victories | Four |
| 2024 F1 Academy team | MP Motorsport |
| 2024 support | Red Bull Racing |
| 2024 championship result | Fifth place with 133 points |
| 2025 racing team | Team Virage |
| 2025 racing series | Ligier European Series |
| University | Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi |
Her date of birth, Emirati nationality, Red Bull Racing support and 2024 championship result are confirmed by her official F1 Academy profile.
Who Is Hamda Al Qubaisi?
Hamda Al Qubaisi is a professional racing driver who represents the United Arab Emirates in international motorsport.
She began in karting before progressing into single-seater cars. Her career has included Italian Formula 4, UAE Formula 4, Formula Regional, F1 Academy and prototype racing.
She attracted global attention because of her results, but her career is also important for representation. Female racing drivers from the Arab world have historically had fewer opportunities and less public visibility in international motorsport.
Hamda and her sister have helped change that picture by racing in major international competitions.
Readers can also explore her older sister’s racing journey and the important role both women have played in UAE motorsport.
Early Life and Start in Karting
Hamda was born in Abu Dhabi on 8 August 2002.
She became interested in motorsport while growing up in a family closely connected with racing. Her father, Khaled Al Qubaisi, competed in endurance racing, while her older sister, Amna, began karting before her.
Hamda started racing at around 12 years old. She entered a karting shootout that gave young drivers an opportunity to move from rental karts into professional competition.
Karting helped her learn the basic skills required in motor racing. These included car control, braking, overtaking, cornering and making quick decisions under pressure.
After several years in karting, she moved into Formula 4 competition in 2019.
Formula 4 Career
Formula 4 became an important stage in Hamda’s development.
She competed in the UAE Formula 4 Championship and won three races during the 2020 season. She added three more victories in 2021.
These results showed that she could compete for wins in single-seater cars. They also helped her gain the experience needed for stronger European championships.
Her most important Formula 4 moment came at Misano in June 2021.
She finished third in an Italian Formula 4 race and became the first woman in the championship’s history to claim an overall podium.
This result was important because Italian F4 is one of the strongest junior racing championships in Europe. Many drivers use it as a first step towards Formula 3, Formula 2 or other professional racing categories.
Hamda later described the Misano podium as one of the most meaningful moments of her career.
Move to Formula Regional
In 2022, she moved into Formula Regional competition.
She raced in the Formula Regional Asian Championship and later joined PREMA Racing for the Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine.
Formula Regional cars are faster and more powerful than Formula 4 cars. Drivers must manage stronger braking forces, greater speed and more advanced aerodynamics.
Although the season was challenging, it gave Hamda experience at famous European circuits and helped prepare her for future competitions.
She was also invited to complete an official FIA Formula 3 test at Magny-Cours in France during September 2022.
The test allowed her to experience a more powerful Formula 3 car. It included qualifying simulations, short runs, technical discussions and a race-distance programme.
F1 Academy Success
Hamda joined MP Motorsport for the first F1 Academy season in 2023.
F1 Academy was created to help female drivers gain racing experience, professional support and greater visibility. The championship races alongside Formula 1 at selected events.
Hamda became one of the leading drivers during the first season.
She won four races and finished third in the championship standings. One of her victories came during the final event in Austin, Texas.
Her 2023 campaign was even more notable because she had suffered a broken arm in a Formula 4 accident earlier that year. She returned to competition and won an F1 Academy race only a few months after the injury.
The season established her as one of the strongest competitors in the championship.
Red Bull Racing Support in 2024
Hamda returned to F1 Academy with MP Motorsport in 2024.
This time, she represented Red Bull Racing and became part of the Red Bull Academy Programme.
The partnership gave her access to a major Formula 1 brand and increased her global visibility. She carried Red Bull Racing colours throughout the season.
She finished fifth in the championship with 133 points.
Although she did not repeat her four victories from 2023, she continued to score points and compete near the front of the field.
The 2024 season was her final year in F1 Academy because drivers can only compete in the championship for a limited number of seasons.
Move into Prototype Racing
In 2025, Hamda moved from junior single-seater racing into prototype competition.
She joined Team Virage for the Ligier European Series and shared the No. 88 Ligier JS P4 with Amna.
A prototype racing car is different from a Formula 4 or F1 Academy car. It has an enclosed body, different aerodynamics and is designed for longer races involving driver changes.
The sisters earned podium finishes during the season. Hamda also secured a pole position at Silverstone, becoming only the second woman in Ligier European Series history to achieve that result.
They completed the season fourth in the JS P4 drivers’ championship with 104 points.
The move showed that she could adapt to a different type of car and racing format.
Current Status in 2026
As of July 2026, the most recently completed full-season programme confirmed for Hamda is her 2025 Ligier European Series campaign.
No newer full-season 2026 racing entry was identified in the official sources reviewed for this article.
She continues to be publicly described as an Emirati racing driver. She is also completing her university education in Abu Dhabi.
In June 2026, Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi reported that she was studying for a bachelor’s degree in Records Management and Archival Science.
Her studies show that she is building an academic path alongside her motorsport career.
Education at Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi
Hamda studies Records Management and Archival Science.
This subject focuses on protecting, organising and preserving important documents and historical records.
She has explained that she has a strong interest in history. Visits to the UAE National Archives and Library helped her understand how records preserve the story of a country and its people.
Balancing university studies with professional racing can be difficult. Racing involves travel, physical preparation, team meetings, simulator work and long competition weekends.
Her education gives her another area of professional knowledge outside motorsport.
Hamda and Amna Al Qubaisi
Hamda and Amna are two of the most visible Emirati women in international racing.
They have competed together in karting, Formula 4, F1 Academy and prototype racing.
Although they compete against each other when they are in separate cars, they also share information and support one another. When they raced together in the Ligier European Series, they worked as one driver team.
Their careers have helped create more interest in motorsport among young women in the UAE.
They are part of a wider group of UAE athletes building international careers and representing the country in competitive sport.
Why Is Hamda Al Qubaisi Famous?
Hamda is famous for several clear reasons:
- She became the first woman to earn an overall Italian F4 podium.
- She won four races in the 2023 F1 Academy season.
- She finished third in the first F1 Academy championship.
- She represented Red Bull Racing during the 2024 season.
- She completed an official FIA Formula 3 test.
- She moved into prototype racing with Team Virage.
- She earned a Ligier European Series pole position at Silverstone.
These achievements have made her one of the most recognised Emirati drivers of her generation.
Is Hamda Al Qubaisi an F1 Driver?
Hamda is not a Formula 1 World Championship race driver.
The confusion comes from her participation in F1 Academy and her support from Red Bull Racing.
F1 Academy is connected with Formula 1, but it is a separate development championship. Its purpose is to give female drivers more track time, training and visibility.
Hamda represented Red Bull Racing in F1 Academy, but she did not race a Formula 1 car in a Formula 1 Grand Prix.
She did complete an FIA Formula 3 test, which gave her experience in a faster and more advanced single-seater.
Career Achievements
Her most important verified achievements include:
- Six race victories across her 2020 and 2021 UAE Formula 4 campaigns.
- First woman to achieve an overall Italian F4 podium.
- Official FIA Formula 3 test participant in 2022.
- Four F1 Academy victories in 2023.
- Third place in the 2023 F1 Academy standings.
- Red Bull Racing representative in 2024.
- Fifth place in the 2024 F1 Academy standings.
- Ligier European Series pole position at Silverstone in 2025.
- Fourth place in the 2025 JS P4 drivers’ championship.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Hamda Al Qubaisi?
Hamda Al Qubaisi is an Emirati racing driver from Abu Dhabi. She is known for competing in Formula 4, Formula Regional, F1 Academy and the Ligier European Series.
How old is Hamda Al Qubaisi?
She was born on 8 August 2002. She is 23 years old as of July 2026.
What nationality is Hamda Al Qubaisi?
She is Emirati and represents the United Arab Emirates.
Why is Hamda Al Qubaisi famous?
She is famous for winning four F1 Academy races, finishing third in the 2023 championship and becoming the first woman to score an overall Italian F4 podium.
Did Hamda Al Qubaisi race for Red Bull?
She represented Red Bull Racing in the 2024 F1 Academy season while driving for MP Motorsport.
Is Hamda Al Qubaisi a Formula 1 driver?
No. She competed in F1 Academy, which is a female driver development series connected with Formula 1, but she has not competed in a Formula 1 Grand Prix.
Who is Hamda Al Qubaisi’s sister?
Her older sister is Amna Al Qubaisi, who is also an Emirati racing driver.
What did Hamda race in during 2025?
She raced a Ligier JS P4 for Team Virage in the 2025 Ligier European Series.
Where does Hamda Al Qubaisi study?
She studies Records Management and Archival Science at Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi.
Conclusion
Hamda Al Qubaisi has built an international motorsport career through karting, Formula 4, Formula Regional, F1 Academy and prototype racing.
Her Italian F4 podium made history, while her four F1 Academy victories proved that she could compete at the front of an international championship.
Representing Red Bull Racing brought her to a wider audience, and her move into the Ligier European Series showed her ability to adapt to a different kind of racing.
Her career continues to be important for UAE motorsport because she gives young drivers, especially girls from the Arab world, a visible example of what is possible through training, opportunity and competitive experience.
