Rafael Nadal’s Team Rafa claimed pole position for Saturday’s E1 Miami GP season finale after Friday’s qualifying on Biscayne Bay, tightening the championship battle to a single point.
Team Rafa pilots Cris Lazarraga and Tom Chiappe topped qualifying ahead of defending champions Team Brady in second and Team Brazil third. The result narrows Team Brady’s championship lead to just one point heading into Saturday’s races, with 20 points covering the top four teams.
Team Aoki, owned by Miami-born DJ Steve Aoki, sits fourth in the standings and remains mathematically capable of claiming the Champions of the Water title.
Championship Standings
The tight points situation guarantees an unpredictable finale to the 2025 UIM E1 World Championship presented by PIF. Team Brady must maintain their advantage over Team Rafa whilst fending off pressure from Team Brazil and Team Aoki.
The Miami GP marks E1’s first race on United States waters, concluding a season that has visited Jeddah, Monaco, Lagos and Dubrovnik across four continents.
Team Sierra Announced
During Friday’s racing, E1 founder and Chairman Alejandro Agag announced Team Sierra as the newest entry for the 2026 season, bringing the grid to 10 teams.
It was great to see the likes of Will, Marc and Rafa here to support their pilots and teams. The E1 Miami GP represents a major moment as our first race in the U.S.
Rodi Basso, founder and Chief Executive Officer of E1, commented on the championship finale.
The competition has been incredible all season and today’s qualifying sets up a finale worthy of this entertaining season of racing.
Saturday’s racing will determine the 2025 Champions of the Water, with all four contending teams capable of claiming the title.
John Moore’s involvement in powerboat racing began in 1981 when he competed in his first offshore powerboat race. After a career as a Financial Futures broker in the City of London, specialising in UK interest rate markets, he became actively involved in event organisation and powerboat racing journalism.
He served as Event Director for the Cowes–Torquay–Cowes races between 2010 and 2013. In 2016, he launched Powerboat Racing World, a digital platform providing global powerboat racing news and insights. The following year, he co-founded UKOPRA, helping to rejuvenate offshore racing in the United Kingdom. He sold Powerboat Racing World in late 2021 and remained actively involved with UKOPRA until 2025.
In 2025, he established Powerboat News, returning to independent journalism with a focus on neutral and comprehensive coverage of the sport.
