Team Abu Dhabi’s Rashed Al Qemzi and Mansoor Al Mansoori are gearing up for a thrilling conclusion to the UIM F2 World Championship in Portugal this weekend. The championship is coming down to the wire, with either of them having a chance at being crowned world champion on Sunday. Al Qemzi currently holds a six-point lead over Lithuania’s Edgaras Riabko, with Al Mansoori close behind in third place.
To secure the title, Al Qemzi only needs to finish in second place in the Grand Prix of Portugal II. This would make him the first-ever five-time winner of the F2 crown. However, if Al Mansoori repeats his winning performance from last weekend’s race, he could become world champion for the first time if Al Qemzi finishes fourth.
While there are no team orders prioritizing one driver over the other, both Al Qemzi and Al Mansoori are determined to bring home the world title for Team Abu Dhabi. They will be cautious not to take any unnecessary risks that could jeopardize the team’s chance of winning their 18th world title under team manager Guido Cappellini.
Al Mansoori’s first goal is to secure another pole position in Saturday’s qualifying session. Leading the pack on Sunday’s race day could give him an advantage, but he acknowledges the challenges of qualifying first. Meanwhile, Riabko, who finished third in the last race, is aiming for his third career victory in Portugal to stay in contention for the world title.
Aside from the top three contenders, drivers like Mathilda Wiberg, Matthew Palfreyman, and Nelson Morin are also in the mix and could impact the championship outcome. With the pressure mounting and the title on the line, each driver will be focused on delivering their best performance in the final race of the season. It promises to be an exciting and tense finale to the UIM F2 World Championship in Portugal.