Comparato Upholds Italy’s Racing Heritage

Alberto Comparato heads to China next week to compete in the F1H2O Shanghai event with a spring in his step, as his partner, Mathilda Wiberg, won the UIM F2 World Championship last weekend in Portugal, where he was a key member of her team.

For the racer who resides in Chioggia, success in that class is not new – He was the youngest driver to set pole, win a race, and ultimately take the UIM F2 World Championship title at the age of 20.

Moreover, only two Italians have ever won this championship: Alberto and his father, Fabio and this unique father-son achievement encapsulates the remarkable story of the Comparato racing dynasty.

A Dynasty Built on Water

The Comparato name has been synonymous with powerboat racing excellence since Fabio Comparato first took to the water in 1984 at Boretto, Italy.

What began as a dedicated pursuit evolved into a racing team that would span four decades and produce some of the sport’s most impressive records.

Fabio’s career exemplifies consistency and excellence – Over 11 years in F1H2O, he accumulated 93 career starts, 19 podiums, and 42 top-five finishes.

His crowning F1H2O moment came in Malaysia in 2004, where he claimed victory from pole position during what would be his best season, a third-place championship finish.

However, Fabio’s dominance extended far beyond the premier class. He captured world championships in UIM F2 (2001), four T750 titles, and two T850 crowns.

The Prodigy Emerges

Alberto Comparato’s entry into motorsport followed a familiar path, karting at the age of six laid the foundation, and he moved to powerboat racing at the age of 11.

The young Italian’s ascent through the ranks was nothing short of meteoric.

In 2014, at just 16, Alberto achieved the F4 triple crown.

He captured the World Championship, European Championship, and Italian Championship in the same season, becoming the youngest driver ever to claim the F4 World and European titles.

Not content with a single dominant campaign, Alberto repeated his F4 World Championship success in 2015, adding another Italian title to his growing collection.

Breaking Barriers in UIM F2

Alberto’s move to UIM F2 in 2016 marked the beginning of his most impressive chapter so far.

At 18, he became the youngest driver ever to compete in the F2 World Championship.

At his debut race in Finland, he won, becoming the youngest F2 Grand Prix victor in history, and he claimed the F2 pole position in 2018, again as the youngest ever.

That same year, Alberto’s meticulous preparation yielded exceptional results.

After completing over 1,500 testing laps during winter preparation, he won the 2018 UIM F2 World Championship at the age of 20, once again setting the record as the youngest champion in the category’s history.

Stepping into F1H2O

The natural progression led Alberto to F1H2O in 2019, where, at 21, he became the youngest driver in the paddock.

His rookie season with the F1 Atlantic Team showed immediate promise, with six races yielding a best finish of sixth place in Sharjah and a tenth-place championship position that earned him F1 Rookie of the Year honours.

Alberto’s F1H2O career has been marked by steady progress and breakthrough moments and his first pole position came in 2021 at San Nazzaro, making him the youngest driver ever to achieve that milestone in the premier class.

The following year brought his first podium, a third-place finish in Sharjah that helped him achieve his best championship result of eighth place.

Team Comparato Renaissance

From 2021 to 2023, Alberto raced under his family’s team, reviving a squad that had competed from 2001 to 2010 during his father’s era.

After a challenging stint with Team Abu Dhabi in 2024, where he replaced Shaun Torrente, Alberto has returned to Team Comparato F1 for 2025.

Now partnered with Australian Damon Cohen, with Fabio serving as team owner and Alberto piloting a DAC hull, the Comparato racing operation has come full circle.

A Legacy of Firsts

The statistical achievements of the Comparato father and son are impressive.

Together, they have accumulated 10 world titles, seven European titles, and six Italian titles.

From the canals of Chioggia to the world’s premier powerboat racing circuits, the Comparato name continues to represent the pinnacle of Italian excellence on water.

Alberto’s journey in F1H2O has only just begun.

Year/Category	Achievement
F4 Championships
2014	F4 World Champion Youngest ever F4 World Champion (age 16)
2014	F4 European Champion Youngest ever F4 European Champion (age 16)
2014	F4 Italian Champion
2015	F4 World Champion
2015	F4 Italian Champion
F2 Career Highlights
2016	Youngest ever F2 World Championship driver (age 18)
2016	F2 Grand Prix Winner (Finland) Youngest ever F2 Grand Prix winner (age 18) Winner at first F2 race
2018	Youngest ever F2 Pole Position
2018	UIM F2 World Champion (age 20) Youngest ever F2 World Champion Completed over 1,500 training laps in winter preparation
F1H2O Career (2019-Present)
2019	F1H2O Debut (age 21) Youngest driver in paddock 10th place overall, best finish 6th (Sharjah) F1 Rookie of the Year
2021	14th place overall Pole Position (San Nazzaro) Youngest ever F1 Pole Position
2022	8th place overall (Best Championship Finish) Podium Finish: 3rd place (Sharjah)
2023	11th place overall Highlight: 4th place finish (Olbia)
2024	Racing for Team Abu Dhabi (Replaced Shaun Torrente)
2025	Return to Team Comparato F1 Teammate: Damon Cohen (Australia)
Career Statistics
Total Races	22 F1H2O Grand Prix (as of 2025)
Pole Positions	1 (San Nazzaro 2021)
Podiums	1 (3rd place, Sharjah 2022)
Best Finish	3rd place
Family Racing Legacy
Father	Fabio Comparato 11-year F1H2O veteran (93 starts) Best season: 3rd place (2004) F1H2O wins: 1 (Malaysia 2004) F1H2O podiums: 19, top-5s: 42 UIM F2 World Champion (2001) 4x T750 World Champion, 2x T850 World Champion
Family Records	Only father-son duo to both win UIM F2 World Championships Only 2 Italians to win UIM F2 World Championship Total family achievements: 10 World titles, 7 European titles, 6 Italian titles
Business	Nautica Comparato (established 1983)
2025 Season Setup
Team	Team Comparato F1
Teammate	Damon Cohen (Australia)
Team Manager	Matt Palfreyman (Great Britain)
Hull	DAC (Dalla Antonio Catamaran)
Racing Start	Karting: age 6 Powerboating: age 11