“No Team Orders” – Andreas Wiberg on His Children’s Title Battle
With Hilmer Wiberg leading his sister Mathilda by just five points heading into Sunday’s F2 World Championship finale at Vila Velha, their father Andreas faces the most unusual dilemma in powerboat racing history.
Powerboat News spoke to the man watching his son and daughter battle for the UIM F2 World Title
We go into this weekend in the most unusual position for a father in offshore powerboat racing. You have a son and daughter in first and second place in the UIM F2 World Championship—Hilmer is five points ahead of Mathilda. What’s the family dynamic like with you and your wife Emma going into the weekend?
Andreas Wiberg: “It’s a big challenge because, as everybody knows, everything can happen in a race. I think Mathilda will be very fast this weekend, so we’ll see how it ends up.”
Why do you think Mathilda might have the edge over Hilmer?
AW: “She’s very fast in these conditions—when it’s a little bit flat, she’s strong. She’ll be very, very competitive.”
And you’ve seen the weather forecast shows little wind…
AW: “Not much wind forecast, and she can perform when it’s calm conditions.”
I have to ask you this question—you don’t have to answer—but after qualifying on Saturday, will you implement team orders?
AW: “No. It’s a straight-out race. That’s why we’re here.”
Going into this season, Mathilda obviously started 2 years ago in UIM F2, but this is Hilmer’s first season ever in the class…
Were you surprised how quickly Hilmer adapted to this class?
AW: “He’s been very fast in all the classes he’s competed in. In Formula 4, he was third in the championship in his first season. Every class he starts racing in, he’s on the podium immediately. In offshore racing, he’s already a world champion—he was second in his first world championship competition.”
It’s a lovely problem to have, but I have to ask—you’re not going to tell me who you want to win, are you?
AW: “No, it’s up to them. We hope the best one wins.”
With calm conditions forecast for Vila Velha and both Wiberg siblings capable of victory, Sunday’s finale promises to be a family affair like no other in powerboat racing history and as Andreas says, “Everything can happen in a race”.
John Moore has a longstanding involvement in event organisation and powerboat racing journalism. He organised the historic Cowes–Torquay–Cowes races between 2010 and 2013 and was actively involved with British offshore racing from 2017 until 2025.
In 2017, Moore founded Powerboat Racing World, a digital platform providing global powerboat racing news, insights, and event coverage.
He is now Editor of Powerboat.News, continuing to contribute to the sport’s media landscape with in-depth reporting and analysis.
