Amna Al Qubaisi Is Rewriting the Rules of Racing
The first female Emirati driver shares her latest career wins and how to beat gender bias in the sport.
At just 14, Amna Al Qubaisi fell in love with racing after watching her father compete. Just four years later, in 2018, she became the first Emirati woman to officially enter the Formula 3 racing world — sending a powerful message to women everywhere: never take a back seat when it comes to your dreams. She’s since faced the sport’s most difficult hurdles, from navigating gender bias to hopping behind the wheel only a week after a near-fatal crash.
Like most female competitors, keeping her focus clear and frankly, remaining in her lane, has always been her MO. But as she shared in a 2022 interview with us, the male-dominated sport has continuously posed challenges to her success. For example, “The car chassis (structure) was built for male drivers,” she told us. “So, [she] has struggled to make the perfect seat fit with the pedal measurements.”
While Formula 1 drivers benefit from frequent access to testing tracks, Formula 2 and 3 racers — especially women — have far fewer chances to practice. The limited resources make her wins all the more impressive. “I would say the lack of track time for practicing or testing has really impacted my performance, as I’m unfamiliar with the car and every track has always been my first time, so it always felt like a game of catch-up.”
@amnaalqubaisiWhat if I can have both 🤔♬ original sound – Lukasmuelr
“Do it for yourself, not for anyone else.”
Her best tip for navigating the space is to “always remain kind and respectful. I can’t control what people think or act towards me. When I first started, I realized I wasn’t taken very seriously and my feedback about cars didn’t matter,” she said. “So, I’ve learned that I need to be more firm and keep my head held high.”
Al Qubaisi’s performance and strong desire for success have landed her campaigns with LOEWE, Cadillac and Samsung, and parents are sending their daughters to racing lessons because of her impact. “I’ve been told that parents allowed their daughters to compete in male-dominated sports because of what I’ve accomplished,” she told HYPEBEAST after setting a record time in Cadillac’s then just-released CT5-V Blackwing.
Cadillac
As seen through these campaigns, the job does have its perks and her impact extends far beyond the tracks limits. Since her last interview with us, she’s had the pleasure of racing Formula 1 friends like Jack Doohan, Ollie Bearman and Zhou Guanyu.
As she competes with the sport’s elite, she brings her own style to the track, helping her remain confident. “My must-haves are Fenty Beauty‘s concealer and mascara, and my Charlotte Tilbury Pinkgasm Sunset blush,” she jokes. When it’s time to hang up her tracksuit, she’s opting for a classier, old-money aesthetic or keeping it playful with minimalist, sporty chic ‘fits.
Recently, she earned a spot in the Ligier European Series alongside her sister, Formula 4 racer Hamda Al Qubaisi. The event marked the first race where the sister duo shared a car and swapped their single-seaters for sports prototype racing. “It’s honestly a super exciting route!” she told us. Now, she’s raising the stakes and setting new goals. “My new goal is to compete in the 24 Hours of Le Mans with my sister and aim for a podium.”
If you’re feeling inspired by Al Qubaisi’s journey, her advice is to “Do it for yourself, not for anyone else. Don’t let others’ opinions define you and stay true to what makes you happy. Focus on your journey and enjoy what you do.”
This interview has been condensed for clarity.
While you’re here, dive into our conversation with Jordan Rand.
