Andersson Defends Slender Lead as F1H2O Arrives in Zhengzhou

The F1H2O Zhengzhou Grand Prix promises a thrilling weekend of racing as the F1H2O World Championship arrives on the historic Yellow River for the third round of the 2025 season.

After two dramatic rounds in Indonesia and Shanghai, just eight points separate the top six drivers in what is shaping up to be one of the most competitive championship battles in recent years. The last time the standings were this tight at the third round was in 2013, when Alex Carella, Sami Seliö and Philippe Chiappe were locked in a fierce title fight that went down to the wire in Sharjah.

Team Sweden’s Jonas Andersson leads the championship on 40 points following his dramatic victory in Shanghai, but the three-time World Champion knows from bitter experience how quickly fortunes can change. In 2022, Andersson led the championship heading into the final race only to miss out on the title by the narrowest of margins to Shaun Torrente.

Speaking of Torrente, the three-time World Champion sits just five points behind Andersson in fourth place after finishing second in Shanghai. The Victory Team driver won his Sprint race and was gifted pole position for the Grand Prix when Stefan Arand required a last-minute engine change.

Second in the standings is Rusty Wyatt on 37 points. The Sharjah Team driver had led the championship after his sensational debut victory in Indonesia but suffered a devastating barrel-roll retirement on lap 12 in Shanghai.

Alec Weckström holds third on 36 points for the Victory Team after adding a sixth-place finish in Shanghai to his runner-up result on Lake Toba. The Finnish driver is chasing his first Grand Prix victory since joining the series, and with his team-mate Torrente in form, the Victory Team leads the Teams’ Championship by two points from the Sharjah Team.

The weekend’s standout performer in Shanghai was undoubtedly Stefan Arand. The young Estonian claimed a stunning maiden pole position for the Sharjah Team in a qualifying session that showcased the raw talent that saw him finish third in the 2023 F2 World Championship. Despite the heartbreak of an engine change dropping him to 19th on the grid, Arand carved through the field to finish fourth, demonstrating the fighting spirit that characterises the great champions of this sport.

Grant Trask’s performances in Shanghai announced his arrival as a genuine contender. The Australian, qualified brilliantly and finished third in the Grand Prix to claim his first F1H2O podium. He now sits equal fifth with Arand on 32 points and has catapulted Team Sweden into serious Teams’ Championship contention.

Team Abu Dhabi’s Erik Stark remains in touch with the leaders despite a difficult start to the season. He finished fifth in Shanghai and sits sixth in the standings, 16 points behind friend and rival Andersson. Stark has been crowned champion before and knows exactly what it takes to mount a late-season charge. Learn more about UIM regulations and championships.

The Red Devil-SMC F1 Team showed flashes of brilliance in Shanghai. Two-time champion Sami Seliö was running fourth in his new Sharjah-designed hull when he dramatically rolled just four laps from the finish. The Finnish veteran, who won world titles in 2007 and 2010, has 170 Grand Prix starts to his name and remains one of the most experienced drivers in the field.

For the China CTIC Team, racing on home waters in Zhengzhou presents a golden opportunity. Peter Morin finished eighth in Shanghai whilst rookie Kyle Maskall showed impressive pace before crashing out of eighth with nine laps remaining. Both drivers will be determined to give the passionate Chinese fans something to celebrate this weekend.

Marit Strømøy arrives in Zhengzhou looking forward to a circuit she enjoys racing at. The Norwegian struggled with boat balance in Shanghai’s rough water but showed encouraging pace in calmer conditions during the warm-up. Her team-mate Bartek Marszalek claimed a vital championship point with tenth place.

The F1 Atlantic Team’s Ben Jelf heads to Zhengzhou without a point from Shanghai after fuel pump issues curtailed what had been a promising weekend. The young Briton, who finished third on Lake Toba, holds eighth in the championship and will be eager to return to the podium where he stood alongside Wyatt and Weckström just six weeks ago.

Zhengzhou has hosted F1H2O racing since 2007, with the Yellow River providing one of the most challenging venues on the calendar. Jonas Andersson claimed victory here in 2023 during his dominant championship-winning season, whilst the 2024 race saw him extend his championship lead in another crucial performance.

The city, known as one of the eight historical capitals of China and the cradle of Chinese civilisation, has witnessed some memorable racing over the years. With 20 drivers from ten teams ready to do battle and a championship that couldn’t be tighter, this weekend’s F1H2O Zhengzhou Grand Prix promises to deliver another thrilling chapter in the venue’s rich motorsport history.

Grand Prix of Zhengzhou Schedule

Session	Local time (CST, UTC+8)	Your time
Friday 10 October
Driver’s Briefing	08:30–09:30	08:30
Free Practice 1	10:00–11:00	10:00
Free Practice 2	12:00–13:00	12:00
Free Practice 3	15:00–16:00	15:00
Driver’s Briefing	17:00–17:30	17:00
Saturday 11 October
Qualifying	09:00–10:00	09:00
Sprint Race 1	14:05–14:20	14:05
Sprint Race 2	14:45–15:00	14:45
Sprint Races Prize Giving	15:00	15:00
Driver’s Briefing	16:00–16:30	16:00
Sunday 12 October
Warm-up	07:00–08:00	07:00
Grand Prix of Zhengzhou	10:05–10:50	10:05
Prize Giving Ceremony	11:00	11:00

Time conversion: Official times are in the event’s local time (China – CST, UTC+08:00). The “your time” column automatically converts to your device’s time-zone.