Al Qemzi Steps In as Team Abu Dhabi Part Ways with Comparato

Team Abu Dhabi has announced that Italian driver Alberto Comparato will be replaced for the remainder of the 2024 UIM F1H2O World Championship season by Emirati Rashed Al Qemzi. The decision to part ways with Comparato was mutually agreed upon by both parties.

Al Qemzi, who recently secured his fifth UIM F2 World Championship title, will take over Abu Dhabi 6 in time for the Grand Prix of Zhengzhou, China, scheduled for October 17-19. Team manager Guido Cappellini emphasized that the decision was a difficult but necessary one, stating, "It was made after a deep evaluation process, for the benefit of both the team and Comparato."

Cappellini acknowledged Comparato's potential, noting his past success as an F2 World Champion, but said the results this season did not meet the expectations of either the team or the driver. Comparato echoed these sentiments, expressing his disappointment: "I thought Team Abu Dhabi would be where I could achieve my F1 World Championship dreams, but I didn’t feel I was able to give my best."

Al Qemzi, already part of Team Abu Dhabi’s F1H2O line-up, will be making his 11th Grand Prix start in Zhengzhou, racing alongside his cousin, Thani Al Qemzi. He previously stepped in for Comparato during the Grand Prix of Bình Định-Vietnam in March after Comparato suffered a crash in qualifying.