Dania Akeel leads Rally Jameel

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Updated 06 March 2024
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Dania Akeel leads Rally Jameel

  • Female drivers battle sand and stones in challenging race

ALULA: Saudi rally driver Dania Akeel and her co-driver Syndiely Wade from Senegal won the opening stage of the Rally Jameel 2024 on Wednesday to lead the race in AlUla.

The Dania Akeel team collected 1149.581 points to beat last year’s title holder, the Sandstorm Express team from the Netherlands.

After finishing in third place for the Challenger class W2RC podium in Abu Dhabi, Akeel expressed her happiness at winning first place at Rally Jameel. “It was a good start and we enjoyed the competition with those leading female drivers and we are looking forward to the next stages,” she said.




Dania Akeel at the finish line in AlUla. (SUPPLIED)

In the early hours of Thursday, Akeel and Wade set off first from the starting line in AlUla, heading to the next stage at Umluj.

The Sandstorm Express team, comprised of driver Ewelina Chlebowska of Poland and co-driver Hanna Riehle of Germany, gained 1148.304 points in the first stage.

Speaking after reached the final point in AlUla, Chlebowska said: “It has a been a great challenge and we feel very confident to repeat our victory this year. We will keep going for the next stages and hope we continue our momentum to lead the race.”




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Saudi Arabia’s rising rally racing driver, Maha Al-Hamali, and her co-driver Eleanor Coker of the US, completed the stage in third place and gained 1147.497 points.

Al-Hamali said that she was looking forward to gaining more points: “We ended the first stage and we are happy but hope for the best. We enjoyed our race and it was so interesting to see the spectacular sights on our way from Hail to AlUla. We really appreciate Rally Jameel offering us this opportunity to compete with those national, regional and international female drivers.”




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Members of the Saudi Rally Docs team, co-driver Dr. Alaa Alzahrani and driver Sarah Alhumoud, who are competing in Rally Jameel for the second year in a row, said that it was a demanding race but also a rewarding experience.

“Yes, it was challenging stage but we enjoyed it. The difficulties were the sands and stones we faced on the road but I have a good driver,” Alhumoud said.

Alzahrani, an assistant professor at King Abdulaziz University and an immunology researcher, said that the team also competed to achieve another goal. “We have an awareness campaign to deliver; we as a team in cooperation with the Saudi Center for Organ Transplantation campaign to promote public awareness about organ donation and transplantation,” she said.

Rally Jameel 2024, held under the slogan “She Shifts the World,” will continue from AlUla to Umluj, to Yanbu, and ends on March 8 at King Abdullah Economic City for the final ceremony with the participation of 55 teams from 37 countries.


Piastri on pole for Emilia-Romagna GP as Ferrari struggles

Updated 17 May 2025
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Piastri on pole for Emilia-Romagna GP as Ferrari struggles

  • Piastri seemed to lose valuable time getting past cars toward the end of his final qualifying lap
  • George Russell took third for Mercedes

IMOLA, Italy: Oscar Piastri fought his way through traffic to take pole position in the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix on Saturday as Ferrari had a terrible session, with neither car in the top 10.

Piastri seemed to lose valuable time getting past cars toward the end of his final qualifying lap but it still proved enough as Max Verstappen fell just .034 of a second short of the Australian’s time.

That gives Piastri a big advantage in Sunday’s race at a track where overtaking is notably difficult.

George Russell took third for Mercedes, pushing Piastri’s McLaren teammate and title rival Lando Norris down to fourth.

It was a tough day for the home fans as Ferrari drivers Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton and Formula 1’s sole Italian driver, Kimi Antonelli, all qualified outside the top 10. All three were caught out by rivals improving their times at the end of the second part of qualifying, with Leclerc 11th, Hamilton 12th and Antonelli 13th.

Earlier in the session, heavy crashes for Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda and Alpine’s Franco Colapinto brought out the red flag.


Piastri leads McLaren one-two in first Imola practice

Updated 17 May 2025
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Piastri leads McLaren one-two in first Imola practice

  • Australian Piastri lapped the Imola circuit with a fastest time of one minute 16.545 seconds
  • Carlos Sainz was third on the timesheets for Williams

IMOLA, Italy: Formula One leader Oscar Piastri led Lando Norris in a McLaren one-two in first practice for the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix that ended early on Friday after Gabriel Bortoleto crashed his Sauber.

Australian Piastri, winner of four of the last five races, lapped the Imola circuit with a fastest time of one minute 16.545 seconds on the softest tire compound with Norris 0.032 slower on a sunny afternoon.

Piastri leads Norris by 16 points after six races, with the 24-round season now starting its European phase after an opening run in Asia, the Middle East and United States.

The session was red-flagged and did not restart after Brazilian rookie Bortoleto crashed into the tire wall with some three minutes remaining. He stepped out unhurt.

Carlos Sainz was third on the timesheets for Williams, 0.052 off the pace, with Mercedes’ George Russell a further 0.002 slower.

Seven-times world champion Lewis Hamilton, limbering up for his first race in Italy as a Ferrari driver, was fifth and 0.096 off the pace.

Pierre Gasly was sixth for Alpine with Red Bull’s four times world champion Max Verstappen seventh, William’s Alex Albon eighth and Bortoleto ninth with team mate Nico Hulkenberg completing the top 10.

“I can’t rely on the rear. It feels like I’m drifting everywhere,” complained Verstappen, last year’s winner at Imola, over the radio.

Mercedes’ 18-year-old rookie Kimi Antonelli, the only Italian on the starting grid and preparing for his home debut, was 13th fastest.

Argentine rookie Franco Colapinto, making his debut for Alpine after replacing dropped Australian Jack Doohan, lapped 17th fastest.

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who was unwell on Thursday and skipped his media duties, was 12th and ran wide into the gravel at one point. He also complained that his helmet was lifting.


Ben Sulayem drives major improvements to FIA’s international Sporting Code

Updated 15 May 2025
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Ben Sulayem drives major improvements to FIA’s international Sporting Code

  • New guidance to significantly reduce maximum penalties for drivers by 50%

DUBAI: The Federation Internationale de l’Automobile, the global governing body for motor sport and the federation for mobility organizations worldwide, has announced that it is to make major improvements to Appendix B of its International Sporting Code following an extensive review commissioned by FIA’s President Mohammed Ben Sulayem.

The latest version of Appendix B of the ISC was introduced in January 2025, aligning the FIA with other global sporting organizations such as FIFA, the National Football League, and World Rugby, all of which have strong codes of conduct to protect the integrity of their respective sports.

Sulayem said: “As a former rally driver I know firsthand the range of emotions that are faced during competition. I have led an extensive and collaborative review with contributions from across the seven FIA world championships, FIA member clubs and other motor sports organizations.

“The improvements the FIA has announced today to Appendix B will ensure we continue to promote the best of sportsmanship in motor sport, while also giving stewards effective guidelines to act against individuals who may bring the sport into disrepute. The FIA will always be committed to ensuring motor sport is accessible for all our sporting family.”

The ISC provides the stewards with the necessary regulatory tools to ensure they have all relevant information regarding the range of penalties that may be imposed and the procedures to be followed. This enables them to apply penalties in a consistent and transparent manner.

The review was carried out in collaboration with the FIA Drivers’ Committee and Ronan Morgan, its president, as well as the FIA Formula One steward chairs. Input was also received from FIA members clubs and other motor sport organizations across the seven FIA world championships.

The main changes to Appendix B are: The base maximum penalty has been reduced generally from €10,000 to €5,000. This is a reduction of 50 percent.  However, for FIA world championships, where multipliers are involved, the reductions will be even more significant.

Stewards will have the option to fully suspend a penalty for certain types of breach, provided it is the first offense by the driver or team.

Following approval via e-vote by the WMSC (World Motor Sport Council), the amended Appendix B will allow stewards to differentiate between controlled and non-controlled environments, effectively recognizing the difference between language used in “uncontrolled” and “controlled” environments. Controlled environments include settings such as press conferences, while uncontrolled environments refer to spontaneous comments made by drivers or teams when on track or during a rally stage.

Mitigating circumstances will continue to be considered, with additional guidance available to promote consistency and fairness for all parties in the application of Appendix B.

Abuse of officials will now result in sporting penalties rather than fines, aligning motor sport with other major global sports organizations.

Racial and discriminatory comments will continue to be addressed firmly.

Stewards will retain the supreme authority to decide which penalty to impose in the event of a breach of the ISC.

Morgan said: “Drivers are looked up to as role models by young fans and are rightly seen as ambassadors for the wider world of motor sport. How they act really does matter, but it is important to recognize that there is a difference between what is said during a race and in a press conference.

“Today’s changes further strengthen the FIA’s International Sporting Code, supporting our drivers by understanding the pressures they face during the heat of competition.”


FIA cuts controversial F1 driver swearing fines

Updated 14 May 2025
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FIA cuts controversial F1 driver swearing fines

  • Importantly the new guidelines given to race stewards now differentiates between swearing in “controlled” or “uncontrolled” circumstances.
  • This will give drivers more latitude for turning the air blue in the heat of the moment, for example on the team radio during races.

PARIS: Formula One’s governing body on Wednesday reduced the controversial penalties dished out to drivers for swearing after a backlash from the grid.

Ahead of this weekend’s Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, the FIA has removed the risk of a race ban and cut the “base maximum penalty from EUR10,000 ($11,180) to EUR5,000.”

Importantly the new guidelines given to race stewards now differentiates between swearing in “controlled” or “uncontrolled” circumstances.

This will give drivers more latitude for turning the air blue in the heat of the moment, for example on the team radio during races.

“Controlled environments include settings such as press conferences, while uncontrolled environments refer to spontaneous comments made by drivers or teams when on track or during a rally stage,” a statement from the FIA explained.

It went on to describe the development as “major improvements” to appendix B of the sporting code.

The previous policy had come in for intense criticism from the likes of four-time world champion Max Verstappen, who was sanctioned for swearing at a press conference in Singapore.

The drivers will have a chance to give their reaction to the toned-down swearing policy at Imola on Thursday at the traditional pre-race round of press conferences.


The relaxation in the rules came after an open letter to FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, up for re-election later this year, from the drivers who asked the FIA to treat them “like adults.”

In February, Williams driver Carlos Sainz questioned the FIA’s hard-line approach to the subject.

Sainz said while it was reasonable to expect drivers to avoid swearing while speaking in a public setting such as a news conference, it was a different matter while they were on the track.

“What we say on the (car) radio, I don’t agree with what is happening,” said the Spaniard.

“I think you cannot be too tough on these kinds of things because you cannot understand the pressure and adrenaline and the way we feel in the car when we open the radio.

“And I feel for F1 it is good to have those moments because you see the real driver.”


Dubai-based racing talent targets F1 goals after ‘milestone’ Alpine move

Updated 14 May 2025
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Dubai-based racing talent targets F1 goals after ‘milestone’ Alpine move

  • Keanu Al-Azhari, 17, recently joined the French team and will race in the GB3 Championship this season

DUBAI: A young UAE motorsport driver hopes his move to Alpine Academy can help him achieve his goal of racing in Formula 1 in the future.

Dubai-based Keanu Al-Azhari, 17, recently joined F1’s Alpine Academy and will race for Hitech GP in the GB3 Championship this year after two seasons in Formula 4.

He praised Dubai Autodrome, a subsidiary of Union Properties, for its role in his sporting development.

Al-Azhari described his move to Alpine Academy as a “milestone” achievement, especially as he comes from a racing family. The 17-year-old is now looking forward to the latest chapter in his racing journey, hoping it can eventually lead to a seat in the pinnacle of motorsport — Formula 1.

“Joining Alpine is a big milestone in my career and a reflection of all the hard work that I have put in,” he said. “I’m really proud to be part of the Alpine family, and they will help develop me during my junior single-seater career. Hopefully, this move will be another step toward reaching my career goal of reaching F1 one day, as that is my dream. It’s going to be a tough few years, but I am ready to show everyone what I have now.”

Al-Azhari has made an impressive start to his motorsport career. Last year, he secured four wins, nine podiums and five pole positions, finishing runner-up in the Formula 4 Spanish Championship, while in the Formula 4 UAE Championship in the same year, he earned two wins, five podiums and four pole positions to secure third place overall.

Before getting behind the wheel, he came through the ranks in karting at Dubai Kartdrome, where he was part of its DAKA program, and raced in some prominent competitions, including the IAME Series UAE.

His fond memories of the venue came at a very early age, having followed his father, Karim, in his motorsport journey. Al-Azhari also spoke of his gratitude to Dubai Autodrome for supporting his career.

He said: “The Dubai Autodrome and Kartdrome have been a big part of my life. My first memories of going to the track were at a very young age, when I was 3 years old, when my dad, Karim Al-Azhari, was racing in local competitions. After finishing my karting career, it was the place where I learned how to drive a racing car and got my racing license.

“I have taken to the track and driven in so many different layouts of the track, which helped me develop before I went into the Formula 4 European Series races. I’m really grateful for their support, as they have played a big role in my journey today.”

Al-Azhari is among a number of young drivers who have transitioned from karting to motorsport with the help of Dubai Kartdrome.

The list includes UAE’s Rashid Al-Dhaheri, former Dubai Kartdrome O Plate champion, who recently joined Mercedes’ Junior Driver Program; Zack Scoular, competing in British GB3; Jamie Day, an ex-karting champion and part of the Aston Martin drivers’ junior team in European Endurance GT3; Edward Jones, who finished third in Indy 500; and Federico Rifai, a multiple-karting champion and former Saudi F4 winner.

Having seen Al-Azhari come through the ranks, Dubai Autodrome general manager Faisal Al-Sahlawi said the 17-year-old’s rapid progress is a testament to the Dubai Autodrome’s efforts to produce future motorsport stars.

He added: “We are extremely pleased to see how far Keanu Al-Azhari has come so early in his career, and we are delighted Dubai Autodrome has played a key role in helping make him the driver he is today.

“Ever since he started coming to Dubai Autodrome, he always had a passion for motorsport and the hunger to succeed in every race, and it is wonderful to see that he still has that commitment. With plenty of years ahead of him, he possesses all the correct attributes to be an even better driver and become a future world motorsport champion.

“We hope many young drivers across the UAE can follow in his footsteps and begin their motorsport journey with Dubai Autodrome.”