MP Motorsport recruit Amna and Hamda Al Qubaisi for 2023 campaign

Amna and Hamda Al Qubaisi have become MP Motorsport’s first signings for the upcoming F1 Academy season, with both sisters competing for the Dutch team this year.

Amna made her single-seater debut in Italian F4 in 2018, where she gained two seasons of experience, before becoming the first Emirati and female racer to compete in the Formula 4 UAE Championship the following year.

From there, the 22-year-old has also competed in the Asian F3 Championship, Formula Regional Asian Championship and a two-round appearance in the Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine.

Meanwhile, Hamda took her first foray into single seaters by competing in the 2019 Italian F4 season. In 2021, she made history by becoming the first female racer to claim a podium in the Championship, alongside finishing fourth in F4 UAE, where she achieved two wins and six podiums. After that, the 20-year-old participated in both the Formula Regional Asian and European Championships.

“I’m super excited to announce that I’ll be joining MP Motorsport for the F1 Academy,” said Amna. “MP Motorsport is a fantastic team with decades of expertise, so I’m really happy to be a part of this family. I’m also really happy to be back behind the wheel and see where this takes us.”

“I’m excited to announce that I’ll be racing with MP Motorsport for the F1 Academy,” said Hamda. “I’m excited to represent MP Motorsport in this series and I’m aware of the team’s amazing past, so I can’t wait to continue with them and grow.”

Team Principal Sander Dorsman added: "We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Amna and Hamda to our F1 Academy squad. They are from a family that carries speed in their veins and have a bright future in motorsport ahead of them.

“I have fond memories of the Dubai 24 Hours in which we competed against their father Khaled who won it twice back in 2012, 2013 when Amna and Hamda were still little girls, and then for a third time in 2020. It's amazing to realize that they have grown into fierce competitors in karting and now in single seaters where they form arguably the quickest sister act in the entire world of motorsport. 2023 is going to be great with the pair of them."