F1H2O championship battle arrives in Jeddah

The UIM F1H2O World Championship heads to Saudi Arabia for the penultimate round of the 2025 season as Jeddah prepares to host its Grand Prix on November 27-29.

The Grand Prix of Jeddah will take place on the Red Sea coastal waters, bringing world championship powerboat racing to the kingdom. Saudi Arabia has previously faced challenges hosting F1H2O events, with planned races in 2019 cancelled due to adverse weather conditions and in 2020 the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2025 race represents an important milestone for powerboat racing in the kingdom.

Organised by Promedia with authorisation from H2O Management under the aegis of the Union Internationale Motonautique and the Saudi Water Sports and Diving Federation, the three-day event will feature the sport’s elite drivers competing on the Red Sea coastal waters in what represents a significant expansion of powerboat racing’s presence in the Middle East.

Championship Picture

Finland’s Alec Weckstrom arrives in Jeddah leading the championship standings with 66 points following a breakthrough weekend at Zhengzhou where he claimed both his maiden F1H2O Grand Prix victory and his first sprint race win within 24 hours. The Victory Team driver controlled the 36-lap race in challenging conditions on the Yellow River to head team-mate Shaun Torrente by 3.91 seconds and secure a commanding one-two finish that has transformed the title race.

The 30-year-old from Helsinki, who raced against Formula One stars Max Verstappen, George Russell, Lance Stroll and Lando Norris in karting between the ages of eight and 13, delivered a composed drive despite admitting he did not trust lapped traffic. Weckstrom revealed he checked his mirrors three times per lap to monitor Torrente’s position, managing the gap throughout the race.

The championship battle remains extraordinarily tight at the top. American Shaun Torrente sits just seven points behind his Victory Team colleague on 59 points, the three-time world champion delivering a mature performance to claim second at Zhengzhou and move closer to the title lead. Torrente earlier won Sprint Race 1 at Shanghai and has consistently scored strong results.

Canada’s Rusty Wyatt is only eight points off the lead on 58 points for Sharjah Team. The 2025 season opener winner claimed third at Zhengzhou after finishing just over six seconds behind Weckstrom, and held off intense late pressure from Weckstrom in Sprint Race 2, where he posted the fastest lap at 46.576 seconds and closed to within half a second with three laps remaining.

Andersson’s Title Defence Falters

Defending champion Jonas Andersson occupies fourth place on 50 points for Team Sweden after his championship challenge suffered a catastrophic blow at Zhengzhou. The Swede, who arrived in China leading the standings by three points, spun from pole position at the start of the Grand Prix in rain and rough water on the Yellow River, dropped to ninth, then fell further back before retiring on lap 24 with technical issues.

The retirement marked a dramatic reversal of fortune for Andersson, who had dominated at Shanghai with victories in both the Grand Prix and Sprint Race 1. At Zhengzhou, he extended his remarkable unbeaten sprint race record to 11 consecutive victories with a commanding performance, producing a storming getaway to win Sprint Race 1 by nearly 13 seconds. Since sprint races were introduced last season, Andersson has won every sprint race he has contested.

Despite his sprint dominance, Andersson admitted after the first sprint that his boat remained challenging, telling reporters the equipment was still not perfect and tricky to drive. Those concerns proved prophetic when his Grand Prix ended in disaster less than 24 hours later.

The Zhengzhou weekend was also marked by controversy when blue cards were issued to both Shaun Torrente and Ben Jelf following an on-water dispute during Friday practice that escalated into a confrontation in the pits.

Championship Outlook

With just two rounds remaining and the top four drivers separated by only 16 points, the Jeddah circuit will provide a crucial test as the championship battle heads towards its conclusion in Sharjah next month. Victory Team holds a commanding position with both Weckstrom and Torrente in the top two, whilst the Sharjah Team will look to their home advantage at the season finale.

Race Format

The weekend follows the established F1H2O format with practice sessions on Thursday followed by qualifying and two sprint races on Friday. Saturday’s warm-up will precede the main Grand Prix, which determines the distribution of championship points.

Each boat must accommodate onboard cameras as required by the official television crew, and all engines will be fitted with ECU boxes supplied by H2O Management to ensure technical compliance. The boxes will be randomly assigned and must be installed before any on-water activities commence.

Technical Details

The race course holds water registration KSA15/10.25, valid until 2029. Race officials include Officer of the Day Assaad Rayess, UIM Sport Commissioner Ivan Mota, and Race Director Marco Pietrini. UIM Technical Commissioners Gil Manuel Pedroso and Rui Xavier will oversee technical scrutineering, while Protest Judge Miguel Valente will handle any disputes.

Medical support will be provided on land by Dr. Sulaiman Al-Habib Hospital, with the Osprey Rescue Team handling water-based emergency response.

Repairs may only be conducted at designated areas, with boats required to reach the pontoon under their own power. Further instructions will be provided at the mandatory drivers’ briefing.

Race Weekend Timetable

Looking Ahead

Following Jeddah, the championship concludes with the traditional finale in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, on December 20-21. The Middle Eastern double-header will prove decisive in determining this season’s champion.

Rule Changes for 2026

The UIM Council has approved four significant rule updates for F1H2O, set to take effect from 1 January 2026. A new special award will recognise the highest-placed driver using a four-stroke engine, provided at least 25 per cent of the field competes with alternative engines, as part of the championship’s commitment to environmental innovation.

The UIM has extended homologation for Mercury Racing 2.5 EFI two-stroke engines until 31 December 2026, with a possible one-year optional extension to 2027. This will be the final permitted extension, providing a clear transition timeline toward alternative engine platforms.

Minimum boat weights have been clarified across all engine categories, with the 2.5-litre engines carrying a 550-kilogram minimum. Fines for destroying course buoys have also increased significantly, with first-buoy infractions now carrying a 1,000-euro penalty, up from 600 euros.