FRME & UAE4 – DUBAI: A WEEKEND ALREADY DECISIVE FOR THE SEASON?
FRME: the title fight begins to take shape
After two rounds held in Abu Dhabi, the Formula Regional Middle East heads to the Dubai Autodrome this weekend for the third meeting of the season.
In the standings, Rashid Al Dhaheri leads the way with 103 points, strengthening his position at the top after the opening race weekends. Behind him, Kean Nakamura-Berta (68 points) and Alex Powell (49 points) will battle it out for the runner-up spot. However, Alex Ninovic, Alexander Abkhazava and Maksimilian Popov are close behind with 46 points each, promising an intense showdown in Dubai.
The layout of the Dubai Autodrome should allow all drivers to attempt overtaking moves, something everyone is hoping to see after the action-limited races in Abu Dhabi. The new generation of cars was expected to improve and facilitate on-track battles, but this has not been the trend so far after the first two weekends.
The gaps remain extremely tight within the top 10, highlighting the depth of the field and the importance of every single point. With such a short championship, one bad race or a difficult weekend can result in a significant loss of positions in the standings.
UAE4: Bondarev and Consani for the title, Craigie waiting in the wings
In UAE4, the order established after two rounds gives a clear picture of the forces at play. Oleksandr Bondarev leads the drivers’ standings with 102 points, followed by Andy Consani on 85 points. The duel between these two drivers already appears to be one of the main storylines of the Dubai weekend—one mistake, and the championship could swing!
Kenzo Craigie, third with 53 points, positions himself as a serious outsider capable of upsetting the order if an opportunity arises. The rookie impressed during the opening races in Abu Dhabi and now finds Niccolò Maccagnani and David Cosma-Cristofor right behind him. The battle for third place in the championship could come down to these three drivers.
Scott Kin Lindblom continues to build momentum race after race. The young Red Bull driver should not be overlooked in the final weekends, as he could have a role to play and potentially disrupt the title fight.
A weekend that could tip the championships
As the season progresses, this third round in Dubai already looks like a key moment and could prove decisive. In FRME, the fight for podium positions is incredibly close, while Rashid Al Dhaheri holds a significant advantage in the title race.
In UAE4, the rivalry between Bondarev and Consani has been the driving force of the season so far. The two drivers have shared poles and victories and are consistently together on the podiums.
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