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Sisterly bonds and modern Formula 1 legends: Amna Al Qubaisi’s Racing Idols
For many drivers, racing is a family affair, but none more so than Amna Al Qubaisi. Sitting side-by-side in the MP Motorsport garage, she discusses the unique bond she shares with her sister and fellow F1 ACADEMY competitor Hamda Al Qubaisi.
The RB driver reflects on those who have paved the way for her and climbed up the single-seater ladder all the way to Formula 2, as well learning from the example of one of F1’s fiercest racers.
Tatiana Calderón
“She's the first female to make it into F2. I've met her as well and she's very supportive. She's a girl's girl, so I really look up to her. It was really crazy because no one’s made it into F2 and watching her pave that pathway for women. Honestly, if she could do it, any other female driver could do it as well. So, I was really happy that she was the first and hopefully not the last.
“We did some KZ karting together, it was really fun, and she would support me. I saw her in Miami as well for just a short minute, and she was very supportive and very understanding of my situation in the racing world. So, I’m really happy that I got to bond with her and learn from her.”
Hamda Al Qubaisi
“My sister Hamda, she’s phenomenal. In Italian F4, she was the first female in history to make it onto the podium, so I really look up to her and I admire her racing style, how calm she is and how humble she is on and off-track. So, I would try to push her to be more aggressive, strong and confident, but I love how she is on the inside and on the outside.
“It’s actually something I think no one, no other female or male driver would understand, when they have a sibling racing together in the same team in the same series. You both work together like actual teammates. There are no hard feelings, there's no tough blood. They think we would always fight or whatever, but it’s a very short thing. We’re not going to hold a grudge with each other like teammates do after and keep it for the whole season. We take revenge in something else, not in racing though.
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“The biggest thing I’ve learned from her is being very focused and not changing or experimenting with your racing style on track. What she’s learnt from me is being aggressive, overtaking and fighting for your position because Hamda is very cautious. She doesn’t like to ruin her or anybody else’s race, but I always push her to just do it, you’re not going to lose anything.
“We always talk about (racing together), we were thinking maybe in the upcoming future to do endurance racing together, even with Emely (De Heus). Now we consider Emely as a sister, so we’re also considering her to come join us as well. She’s part of the Al Qubaisi family now, we adopted her. We’re thinking to repeat this, not just in Red Bull, but to continue this bond together.”
Max Verstappen
“The way he drives on and off-track, he’s phenomenal! He’s like a robot, it’s second nature to him when he’s driving on track. I really look up and admire how he’s driving and all his technique. I really want to copy that and implement it in F1 ACADEMY.
“(My favourite moment of his) was in 2021 when he won the Championship for the first time, I was super happy. For advice, I would (ask him) how do you deal with taking decisions? Would you take a decision from an engineer, or would you take your own decision and go with your instinct?”