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Hamda Al Qubaisi is the Emirati racer who made history as the first woman to podium in Italian Formula 4, a Red Bull Junior driver, and one half of motorsport’s most formidable sister duo—proving that breaking barriers runs in the family.

EARLY YEARS

Born on August 8, 2002, in Abu Dhabi, UAE, Hamda Al Qubaisi grew up in an environment where racing wasn’t just a hobby—it was the family business. Her father, Khaled Al Qubaisi, is a renowned Emirati businessman and professional racer who competed in the Porsche Supercup and the World Endurance Championship LMGTE Am class, finishing second in 2016 with Abu Dhabi Proton Racing. He was the first Emirati to race at the legendary Le Mans 24 Hours, so when Hamda showed interest in racing, she had both the pedigree and the financial backing to make it happen.

Her older sister, Amna Al Qubaisi, was already blazing trails as the first Arab woman to win a Formula 4 race and the first Emirati Formula 3 driver. Growing up with the Yas Marina Circuit practically in her backyard, Hamda watched races there as a kid, absorbing the speed, the strategy, and the sheer audacity it took to compete at that level. It was at Yas Marina where the seed was planted, though she didn’t start racing until she was 12.

At that age, Hamda entered a rental karting shootout designed to identify talent for a racing school. “I was very nervous,” she admitted years later, recalling how she felt the pressure to perform on those rental karts. Despite the nerves, she was chosen as one of the drivers to enter the academy, and just like that, she was in. Her first championship season was a microcosm of her entire career: she was nearly lapped in her first race but won the last race of that same season. “It just showed how quickly I progressed,” she said. Quick progression would become her signature.

OTHER INTERESTS

When asked to describe herself in three words, Hamda chose “determined, fun and outgoing”—a mix that suggests she’s got interests beyond the track, even if the details remain private. What is known is that she’s overcome serious injury; her father once promised she’d make it to the first round post-surgery, and she did. Beyond that, Hamda keeps her life outside racing relatively low-key. No public hobbies, no side businesses, no Instagram aesthetic of exotic travels or obscure collections. She’s laser-focused on the cockpit, and that’s where she lets her personality shine.

EARLY SUCCESS

Hamda spent four years in karting, from 2015 to 2018, sharpening her skills and learning to adapt quickly under pressure. In 2016, she became the first Emirati invited to the CIK-FIA Karting Academy Trophy, a prestigious achievement that signaled she was more than just a girl with a famous last name. By 2018, she was finishing fifth in the IAME Series UAE X30 Senior championship, and though she placed 49th at the Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals that year, she was gaining experience on international stages.

In 2019, Hamda and Amna made history by competing together in Italian Formula 4 mid-season with Abu Dhabi Racing by Prema. It was a family affair in the most literal sense—two sisters on the same grid, both chasing the same dream. Hamda returned to Italian F4 full-time in 2020 with Iron Lynx, earning two points finishes. It wasn’t glamorous, but it was progress. She also competed in the Formula 4 UAE championship that year, finishing fourth overall with three wins and 13 podiums across both series. In 2021, she repeated her fourth-place finish in F4 UAE, adding three more wins, one pole position, and six podiums to her résumé.

Then came Misano in 2021. Hamda took third place in the first race of the Italian F4 weekend, becoming the first woman in the series’ history to podium. “The highlight of my career would be in Italian F4 in 2021, I got the podium in Misano,” she said. “I was the first female to do it and to this day, I’m still the only female who has ever done it and I think it’s the biggest achievement for me to date.” It was a statement result, one that silenced any lingering doubts about her ability to compete at the sharp end.

In 2022, Hamda was one of four women selected to test an FIA Formula 3 car at Magny-Cours, further proof that she was on the radar of decision-makers in the sport. By 2023, she joined MP Motorsport for the inaugural F1 Academy season, finishing third overall with four victories. It was an “indescribable feeling,” she said after one of those wins. That same year, she was also announced as a Red Bull Junior Driver, joining Oracle Red Bull Racing’s prestigious development program—a validation of her talent and potential.

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

• 2016: First Emirati invited to the CIK-FIA Karting Academy Trophy.
• 2018: 5th place in IAME Series UAE X30 Senior championship.
• 2019: Competed in Italian F4 mid-season with sister Amna at Abu Dhabi Racing by Prema; 6th in IAME X30 Shifter.
• 2020: 4th in Formula 4 UAE with 3 wins; full season in Italian F4 with Iron Lynx (2 points finishes); 4th in IAME X30 Shifter.
• 2021: 3rd place finish at Italian F4 Misano—first woman to podium in series history; 4th in Formula 4 UAE with 3 wins, 1 pole, and 6 podiums.
• 2022: Selected as one of four women to test FIA F3 car at Magny-Cours.
• 2023: 3rd place in inaugural F1 Academy season with MP Motorsport, earning 4 victories; named Red Bull Junior Driver.

INSPIRATIONS

Hamda’s biggest inspirations are the people closest to her. Her father, Khaled, didn’t just finance her early career—he showed her what it looked like to race at the highest level. “Without her father’s support ‘it would have been really difficult to do that,'” she acknowledged. Her sister Amna has been both a teammate and a trailblazer, setting the standard for what Emirati women can achieve in motorsport. The two have raced side-by-side in Italian F4 and F1 Academy, creating a unique dynamic where sibling rivalry meets mutual respect. And then there’s Yas Marina Circuit, the track where Hamda first watched racing and realized this was what she wanted to do. No posters of idols on her wall—just the roar of engines at her home track and a family that believed she could make it.

REPUTATION

Hamda Al Qubaisi is regarded as a boundary-breaker and an exceptional talent, particularly within Emirati motorsport. Media coverage consistently highlights her role as a pioneer—she’s not just racing, she’s opening doors for future generations of Emirati women. The Red Bull Junior Team doesn’t hand out contracts lightly, and her inclusion in that program speaks volumes about how seriously industry professionals take her abilities. She’s known for quick adaptation and resilience, qualities that were evident from her very first karting season and have carried through to her single-seater career. There’s no controversy, no drama, no mess—just consistent performance and a quiet determination to prove she belongs. Her relationships with top-tier teams like Prema, Iron Lynx, and MP Motorsport, along with her Red Bull affiliation, show that she’s built a solid professional network. Public perception is overwhelmingly positive: she’s the girl who made history at Misano, who races alongside her sister, and who keeps pushing forward no matter what.

FUTURE GOALS/PLANS

As of the most recent information available, Hamda is competing in the Ligier European Series with Team Virage, driving the #88 car alongside her sister Amna. It’s another chapter in the Al Qubaisi sisters’ story, and it signals that Hamda is continuing to diversify her racing experience while staying sharp. Specific goals for 2025 and beyond haven’t been publicly stated, but given her trajectory—F1 Academy podiums, Red Bull Junior status, and a history of making firsts—it’s safe to say she’s not done breaking barriers yet. The question isn’t whether Hamda Al Qubaisi will continue to achieve; it’s what she’ll conquer next.

References:

Goodwood – Modern Racing Profile
Wikipedia – Hamda Al Qubaisi
Grazia Magazine – Profile Article
Kaspersky – Sponsorship Page
Shift The Gears – Sisters Profile
F1 Academy – Driver Introduction
MSM Group – Driver Management
Red Bull – Sisters Article
Speakers Associates – Bio PDF