History Made: Mathilda Wiberg Crowned First Female Formula World Champion

Swedish driver claims 2025 UIM F2 World Championship after brother Hilmer retires with technical failure in dramatic Vila Velha finale

Mathilda Wiberg has rewritten motorsport history. The 20-year-old Swedish driver claimed victory at the Grand Prix of Portugal II to secure the 2025 UIM F2 World Championship, becoming the first woman ever to win a Formula-class world championship in any form of motorsport.

Her triumph came after a race punctuated by mechanical failures that eliminated both her championship rivals—championship leader Hilmer Wiberg retiring with a technical issue on lap 25, and pole-sitter Peter Morin suffering a heartbreaking engine failure caused by a fuse costing less than one euro.

A Championship Decided by Cruel Fortune

The race that would crown motorsport’s most historic champion began with early drama that shaped the entire championship battle. Peter Morin, starting from pole position with hopes of capitalising on championship chaos, saw his dreams evaporate when his engine failed due to the cheapest of failures—a blown fuse worth under €1.

Morin’s stricken boat prompted the first yellow flag of the race, a bitter irony for a driver whose meticulous preparation had earned him pole position. The mechanical failure represented one of motorsport’s cruellest twists—a world championship lost to a component that costs less than a cup of coffee.

The second yellow flag followed when Johan Österberg suffered a dramatic accident.

Hilmer’s Title Defence Crumbles

Championship leader Hilmer Wiberg’s title challenge unravelled on lap 25 when technical gremlins forced his retirement, ending his hopes.

Mathilda’s Moment of Destiny

With her main rivals eliminated by mechanical failures, Mathilda Wiberg controlled the race from the front, setting a fastest lap of 53.814.

Her victory margin of 1.968 seconds over Edgaras Riabko was decisive but not dominant—a professional performance that demonstrated the racecraft and composure that had carried her to this historic moment. The championship mathematics were academic long before the chequered flag, but Mathilda’s conduct throughout reflected the maturity that had defined her breakthrough season.

A Season of Redemption

Mathilda’s championship triumph represents one of motorsport’s great comeback stories. After scoring just two points from the season-opening round at Brindisi, many had written off her title chances before the campaign had barely begun.

Her surge began in Klaipėda with a dominant 20-point haul, followed by a crucial 12-point score in Peso da Régua that put her within touching distance of history. That momentum proved decisive as she entered Vila Velha with belief, pace, and ultimately, the fortune that championship-winning campaigns require.

Supporting Cast Delivers

Behind the championship drama, several drivers delivered standout performances in the finale. Edgaras Riabko claimed his first podium of the season with second place, the Lithuanian’s pace throughout the weekend suggesting he could be a championship contender in 2026.

Local favourite Duarte Benavente provided Portuguese fans with a popular podium finish in third, the former world champion’s consistent speed throughout the weekend culminating in a well-deserved rostrum appearance on home soil.

Stefan Arand secured fourth position ahead of Nelson Morin, whilst Matthew Palfreyman’s sixth place represented a solid recovery from his qualifying disappointment. The British driver’s championship hopes had long since evaporated, but his professional approach in adversity demonstrated the character that defines elite competitors.

 

Grand Prix of Portugal II – Final Results

Pos	Num	Driver	Nat	Gap	Best Lap	Laps
1	7	Mathilda Wiberg 🏆	SWE	—	53.814	40
2	41	Edgaras Riabko	LTU	+1.968	53.783	40
3	45	Duarte Benavente	POR	+7.396	53.671	40
4	18	Stefan Arand	EST	+16.621	53.336	40
5	33	Nelson Morin	FRA	+20.620	53.530	40
6	14	Matthew Palfreyman	GBR	+39.856	54.830	40
7	9	Mette Bjerknæs	GBR	+42.892	49.921	40
8	74	Giacomo Sacchi	MON	+49.025	54.851	40
9	96	Roope Virtanen	FIN	+50.245	54.484	40
10	1	Rashed Al Qemzi	UAE	+1 Lap	54.676	39
11	36	Salem Al Yafei	UAE	+1 Lap	45.052	39
12	3	Owen Jelf	GBR	+1 Lap	45.676	39
13	25	Tino Lehto	FIN	+2 Laps	45.663	38
14	70	Hilmer Wiberg (Technical)	SWE	+15 Laps	53.920	25
15	2	Johan Österberg (Accident)	SWE	+34 Laps	45.260	6
DNF	11	Peter Morin (Engine/Fuse)	FRA	DNF	—	—

A Legacy Defining Moment

As Mathilda Wiberg crossed the finish line at Vila Velha de Ródão, she didn’t just win a race—she shattered a barrier that had stood for decades across all forms of motorsport. Her triumph represents validation for every young girl who has ever dreamed of competing at the highest level.

The championship celebration that followed was a moment of pure emotion, as the realisation of her historic achievement hit home. After decades of women competing in various motorsport categories, the breakthrough moment had finally arrived.

The 2025 UIM F2 World Championship will be remembered not just for its compelling competition, but as the season when motorsport’s ultimate glass ceiling was finally broken. Mathilda Wiberg’s name will forever be associated with that breakthrough—the first, but certainly not the last, woman to claim a Formula-class world championship.

History was made in Vila Velha de Ródão. The sport of powerboat racing—and indeed all of motorsport—will never be quite the same again.