Indonesia's Qarrar Firhand Builds Mental Edge as He Targets British F4 in 2027

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesian racer Qarrar Firhand is putting greater emphasis on mental preparation as he targets a stronger campaign in British Formula 4 next season, using boxing, sparring and track testing to sharpen his reactions and racecraft.

Qarrar said his physical training now combines boxing, gym sessions and cardio through running and cycling. Sparring, in particular, helps him improve his ability to think and react quickly, skills that are increasingly important as he transitions from karting to formula car racing.

“My physical training now includes boxing, gym and cardio. In boxing, I also do sparring because it helps train my thinking speed and reactions,” Qarrar said in Jakarta on Thursday, August 20, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

Rather than focusing solely on physical strength, Qarrar is also working on his mental readiness while increasing testing sessions at various circuits in Britain.

“Physical fitness is very important, but right now I am also focusing a lot on the mental aspect because it is equally important in racing. Besides, we are increasing tests at various tracks to prepare for the next season,” he said.

The 2026 season has become an important transition period for Qarrar after he moved from karting to Formula 4. He previously completed a program with Formula Medicine in Italy that focused on decision-making under pressure, reaction speed, concentration and brain response performance.

Qarrar made his British F4 debut with Argenti Motorsport at the Thruxton round on July 25-26. The experience showed him that adapting to F4 involves more than getting accustomed to a different car.

“I was not too surprised by the car because I had already tested it several times. But testing and racing are different. I have to learn more about racecraft, competing against other drivers, race starts, and understanding situations during races,” he explained.

Team communication has also become an important part of his development, with Qarrar learning to manage more details throughout a race weekend.

The Indonesian racer entered 2026 with the goal of gaining experience after ending his karting career by winning the OK category of the WSK Euro Series.

“My focus this year is to learn and gain as much experience as possible. If I can be at the front, that is a bonus, but the most important thing is to gather experience that can help me next year,” he continued.

His development will continue in 2027, when he is scheduled to compete in a full British F4 season with Hitech. Unlike his adaptation-focused campaign this year, Qarrar is setting his sights on race victories and potentially the championship.

“The target next season is, of course, to try to win races. If we have a chance to win the championship, that is certainly what we will pursue as well,” he concluded. ***