Rashid Al Dhaheri secures Van Amersfoort F3 seat for 2027
Rashid Al Dhaheri will step up to FIA Formula 3 with Van Amersfoort Racing in 2027, after the team confirmed the Emirati driver as part of its lineup for next season.
The move follows a fourth-place finish in this year’s Formula Regional European Championship (FREC). Al Dhaheri improved from eighth in the standings during his 2025 rookie campaign, and will now take the next step in his single-seater career.
The signing adds another rising driver to the 2027 F3 field. Fellow Emirati Keanu Al Azhari is also set to make the move, joining Hitech, as detailed in our report on Al Azhari’s F3 step-up.
Al Dhaheri’s progress earns an F3 opportunity
Al Dhaheri began racing single-seaters in 2023, after collecting karting honours that included titles in the 2021 WSK Champions Cup and Super Master Series OKJ. He spent two seasons competing full-time in Italian F4 and also finished fourth in the UAE F4 championship in 2024.
He moved into FREC in 2025, placing eighth in his first season. A year later, he rose to fourth overall, with three wins and eight podium finishes across the campaign. The results give the Mercedes Junior Team driver a strong record to carry into his first season in F3.
Al Dhaheri described the promotion as an important milestone and said he was focused on preparing for the challenge. He also highlighted the opportunity to represent the UAE and the wider region, while emphasising that he still has work to do before the season begins.
Van Amersfoort targets a strong start to his rookie season
VAR team principal Brad Joyce pointed to Al Dhaheri’s pace and ability to race at the front of a competitive FREC field. He said the team expects to work with the driver during post-season testing as they prepare for his F3 debut.
The signing is another part of Van Amersfoort Racing’s planning for 2027. The team has also confirmed Enzo Deligny will continue with the outfit, covered in our report on Deligny’s 2027 commitment.
For Al Dhaheri, the immediate task is to convert his progress in Formula Regional into readiness for the demands of FIA Formula 3.
Simone Scanu
He’s a software engineer with a deep passion for Formula 1 and motorsport. He co-founded Formula Live Pulse to make live telemetry and race insights accessible, visual, and easy to follow.