The latest turn on Rashid Al Dhaheri’s racing journey takes him back to where it all started - his home track at Yas Marina Circuit.
The Emirati, 15, competes in Formula 4, a no-points trophy round race, ahead of Sunday’s year-ending Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Formula 1 Grand Prix.
Al Dhaheri arrives on the back of his first season in F4 with Prema Racing in the Italian Championship, in which he finished a creditable 10th overall and sixth in the rookie standings in the 40-car field.
He also took third spot behind Theodore Racing’s pair Arvid Lindblad and Charles Leong in Macau in his last race two weeks ago.
Now on home soil, Al Dhaheri hopes that he can do his country proud and place even higher to become the national highlight in what already promises to be an exciting Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
“The season-ending F4 trophy on Yas Marina Circuit is going to be super exciting and we’ll see how the season ends and be as strong as possible for next season,” Al Dhaheri told The National.
“Formula 4 is quite a big step up compared to karting. It was a very insightful season where we had to learn a lot. The cars are bigger and much faster, and there are a lot of new tracks to learn from. I must say we were able to improve a lot throughout the season.
“We started from points and went up to the podium. Indeed, it was a very exciting season and with a lot of memorable moments.
“In racing, towards the end, we were fighting for every millisecond. It’s important to look at every single detail and to be precise about where you would like to be."
Still, F1 is what Al Dhaheri has always had his sights set on. He could have made the grade earlier to qualify in a single seater for a place on the track, had it not been the minimum age set at 15 to join Formula 4.
Al Dhaheri, who turned 15 on April 8, says his long-term goal without doubt is to one day race with the elite in Formula One.
“To reach F1 of course is the ultimate aim but it takes a lot of hard work and determination,” he said.
“It’s a dream that we want to get to. We are working really hard and we also make a lot of sacrifices. Every single day we try to get closer and closer.”
However, before reaching his ultimate goal, Al Dhaheri has to move up the ranks.
“Between F4 and F3 the cars become bigger and stronger, and a bit more developed in a way that they spend more time in the building of the car as it becomes a bit more complex,” he explained.
“There is also bit more to learn from the mechanics as the pit stop becomes part of the race, the management of the tyres and, of course, variety of the tracks we are able to go to.
“That's the same difference as between the F3 and F2. The difference is in F3 they go to worldwide tracks. They follow the F1 race weekend, similar to F2.
“The biggest step between the F2 and F3 is the pit stops involved and there are quite a few tricky tracks like Monaco and Baku.”
Like most elite athletes, Al Dhaheri has a role model.
“Every single racing driver has something special. Fernando Alonso is the driver I like most because of his aggressiveness and he was also the first F1 driver I met,” he said.
“I wore an Alonso helmet and his kit to match when I was four. I always watched him and he was quite an inspiration to me. I walked around with this big Alonso helmet and red shoes. My father used to say I looked like an alien, a little kid with the full-face helmet.”
Al Dhaheri doesn’t have a favourite team, he feels they are all special, and when the time comes, he hopes to race for a team that provides him with the best chances, provided he moves up the ranks.
“It changes a lot nowadays,” he said. “Red Bull is doing a great job. They have a very good car and drivers. Then Ferrari is something special with an incredible following with quite a bit of history behind it. But I follow every racing team that I could get something out of.”
Prema Racing boss Rene Rosin was all praise for Al Dhaheri.
“It’s his first season in F4 and we are looking forward to a great future for him,” he added.
“He has a good team behind him and he has a great future ahead of him. The way forward is going to be long and there will be difficulties. Of course, his work ethic and commitment will take him close.
“He’s the most progressive Arab driver at the moment in single seater. On the other hand, he has age on his side and huge potential, and step by step, we think we can progress together to achieve his ultimate goal.”
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MATCH INFO
Liverpool v Manchester City, Sunday, 8.30pm UAE
The specs: 2018 Peugeot 5008
Price, base / as tested: Dh99,900 / Dh134,900
Engine: 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Power: 165hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 240Nm @ 1,400rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 5.8L / 100km
The specs: 2018 Nissan Altima
Price, base / as tested: Dh78,000 / Dh97,650
Engine: 2.5-litre in-line four-cylinder
Power: 182hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 244Nm @ 4,000rpm
Transmission: Continuously variable tranmission
Fuel consumption, combined: 7.6L / 100km
MATCH INFO
Championship play-offs, second legs:
Aston Villa 0
Middlesbrough 0
(Aston Villa advance 1-0 on aggregate)
Fulham 2
Sessegnon (47'), Odoi (66')
Derby County 0
(Fulham advance 2-1 on aggregate)
Final
Saturday, May 26, Wembley. Kick off 8pm (UAE)
Tewellah by Nawal Zoghbi is out now.
More on Coronavirus in France
Anxiety and work stress major factors
Anxiety, work stress and social isolation are all factors in the recogised rise in mental health problems.
A study UAE Ministry of Health researchers published in the summer also cited struggles with weight and illnesses as major contributors.
Its authors analysed a dozen separate UAE studies between 2007 and 2017. Prevalence was often higher in university students, women and in people on low incomes.
One showed 28 per cent of female students at a Dubai university reported symptoms linked to depression. Another in Al Ain found 22.2 per cent of students had depressive symptoms - five times the global average.
It said the country has made strides to address mental health problems but said: “Our review highlights the overall prevalence of depressive symptoms and depression, which may long have been overlooked."
Prof Samir Al Adawi, of the department of behavioural medicine at Sultan Qaboos University in Oman, who was not involved in the study but is a recognised expert in the Gulf, said how mental health is discussed varies significantly between cultures and nationalities.
“The problem we have in the Gulf is the cross-cultural differences and how people articulate emotional distress," said Prof Al Adawi.
“Someone will say that I have physical complaints rather than emotional complaints. This is the major problem with any discussion around depression."
Daniel Bardsley
The BIO
Favourite piece of music: Verdi’s Requiem. It’s awe-inspiring.
Biggest inspiration: My father, as I grew up in a house where music was constantly played on a wind-up gramophone. I had amazing music teachers in primary and secondary school who inspired me to take my music further. They encouraged me to take up music as a profession and I follow in their footsteps, encouraging others to do the same.
Favourite book: Ian McEwan’s Atonement – the ending alone knocked me for six.
Favourite holiday destination: Italy - music and opera is so much part of the life there. I love it.
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The bio
Favourite book: Peter Rabbit. I used to read it to my three children and still read it myself. If I am feeling down it brings back good memories.
Best thing about your job: Getting to help people. My mum always told me never to pass up an opportunity to do a good deed.
Best part of life in the UAE: The weather. The constant sunshine is amazing and there is always something to do, you have so many options when it comes to how to spend your day.
Favourite holiday destination: Malaysia. I went there for my honeymoon and ended up volunteering to teach local children for a few hours each day. It is such a special place and I plan to retire there one day.
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
HIJRA
Starring: Lamar Faden, Khairiah Nathmy, Nawaf Al-Dhufairy
Director: Shahad Ameen
Rating: 3/5
The specs
Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Power: 620hp from 5,750-7,500rpm
Torque: 760Nm from 3,000-5,750rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed dual-clutch auto
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh1.05 million ($286,000)
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How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
'Laal Kaptaan'
Director: Navdeep Singh
Stars: Saif Ali Khan, Manav Vij, Deepak Dobriyal, Zoya Hussain
Rating: 2/5
The Baghdad Clock
Shahad Al Rawi, Oneworld
Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
