Mathilda Tops Championship Sunday Warm-up as Sacchi Returns
Mathilda Wiberg sent a powerful message to her championship rivals by topping Sunday morning’s warm-up session at Vila Velha de Ródão, setting the fastest time of 50.884 seconds as teams made their final preparations for this afternoon’s title-deciding UIM F2 World Championship finale.
The Swedish driver’s benchmark time came during a 45-minute session conducted in sunny, warm conditions with occasional wind gusts—weather that could play a crucial role in determining the 2025 world champion when racing begins later today.
Sacchi’s Midnight Miracle
The session’s most remarkable story belonged to Giacomo Sacchi, whose team worked through the night to rebuild his boat following yesterday’s dramatic qualifying accident. The Monégasque driver’s return to action in 13th position proved his motor had been successfully dried out and prepared for championship Sunday.
Crucially for Sacchi’s title hopes, avoiding a power head change meant he retained his sixth-place grid position earned in qualifying. A new power head would have condemned him to start from the back of the grid, effectively ending his mathematical championship chances before the race began.
His lap time of 52.295, whilst over 1.4 seconds off Mathilda’s pace, demonstrated the rebuilt boat was fundamentally sound and race-ready for the afternoon’s crucial encounter.
Championship Pace Check
The warm-up session provided a final opportunity for championship contenders to assess their relative pace under race conditions, with mixed results for the title protagonists:
Mathilda Wiberg (P1, 50.884): The pace-setting performance validates her front-row starting position and suggests she has the speed to challenge for the victory needed to claim the historic title. Her margin over the field demonstrates confidence in her setup.
Peter Morin (P3, 51.222): The pole-sitter’s third-place warm-up time, 0.338 seconds behind Mathilda, indicates a closely-matched battle at the front. His consistent pace suggests he’ll be a factor in the championship fight.
Hilmer Wiberg (P8, 51.936): The championship leader’s eighth-place finish, over a second behind his sister, represents concerning form ahead of his title challenge. Starting fifth and lacking ultimate pace could prove a challenging combination.
Portuguese Promise
Local favourite Duarte Benavente provided home fans with encouragement by claiming second position, just 0.241 seconds behind Mathilda’s benchmark. The former world champion’s strong pace from fourth on the grid suggests he could influence the championship battle and potentially claim a popular home victory.
Benavente’s consistent performance—fourth in qualifying, second in warm-up—indicates he possesses genuine race-winning pace and could emerge as the dark horse in this afternoon’s championship showdown.
Notable Absences
André Solvang was absent due to power steering problems and Tobias Munthe-Kaas was sidelined with boat damage
Weather Factor
The sunny, warm conditions with occasional wind gusts present optimal racing weather for the championship finale. The intermittent wind could prove crucial in determining race strategy, with drivers forced to adapt to changing water conditions throughout the afternoon.
Mathilda’s previous strength in calmer conditions—noted by father Andreas before the weekend—may be tested if the wind gusts intensify during the race. Her warm-up pace in varying conditions suggests she’s prepared for whatever nature delivers.
Sunday Morning Warm-up Results
| Pos | Num | Driver | Nat | Gap | Best Lap | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7 | Mathilda Wiberg | SWE | — | 50.884 | 22 |
| 2 | 45 | Duarte Benavente | POR | +0.241 | 51.125 | 17 |
| 3 | 11 | Peter Morin | FRA | +0.338 | 51.222 | 17 |
| 4 | 1 | Rashed Al Qemzi | UAE | +0.409 | 51.293 | 11 |
| 5 | 33 | Nelson Morin | FRA | +0.626 | 51.510 | 17 |
| 6 | 36 | Salem Al Yafei | UAE | +0.668 | 51.552 | 24 |
| 7 | 18 | Stefan Arand | EST | +0.888 | 51.772 | 22 |
| 8 | 70 | Hilmer Wiberg | SWE | +1.052 | 51.936 | 18 |
| 9 | 3 | Owen Jelf | GBR | +1.203 | 52.087 | 33 |
| 10 | 41 | Edgaras Riabko | LTU | +1.218 | 52.102 | 11 |
| 11 | 25 | Tino Lehto | FIN | +1.267 | 52.151 | 22 |
| 12 | 9 | Mette Bjerknæs | GBR | +1.322 | 52.206 | 17 |
| 13 | 74 | Giacomo Sacchi (Rebuilt) | MON | +1.411 | 52.295 | 20 |
| 14 | 14 | Matthew Palfreyman | GBR | +1.501 | 52.385 | 15 |
| 15 | 96 | Roope Virtanen | FIN | +2.295 | 53.179 | 25 |
| 16 | 2 | Johan Österberg | SWE | +2.985 | 53.869 | 25 |
| — | 27 | André Solvang (Power steering) | NOR | — | — | — |
| — | 77 | Tobias Munthe-Kaas (Boat damage) | NOR | — | — | — |
The Stage is Set
With morning preparations complete, the championship finale approaches with tantalising possibilities. Mathilda’s pace-setting performance reinforces her credentials as the driver to beat, whilst Hilmer’s struggles suggest the championship battle is far from decided.
The stage is perfectly set for a championship finale that could deliver history on multiple levels—whether through Mathilda’s potential breakthrough as the first woman to win a Formula-class world title, or the triumph of experience through veterans like Morin and Benavente.
When racing begins this afternoon under sunny Portuguese skies, Vila Velha de Ródão will witness the conclusion of one of the most compelling championship battles in recent F2 history.