Maverick Racing has become the second F1H2O team to confirm its 2026 driver line-up, retaining both Cédric Deguisne and Alexandre Bourgeot alongside reserve driver Beranger Robart for the French operation.
Driver Line-up Confirmed
The French pairing competed in every Grand Prix of the 2025 season, with both drivers recording their best finishes at the closing Sharjah round where Deguisne placed eighth and Bourgeot ninth.
Deguisne finished the 2025 championship in 19th position with 10 points, whilst Bourgeot placed 15th with 20 points.
Historic Engine Switch: Cédric Deguisne will become the second F1H2O driver to convert from two-stroke to four-stroke power, joining Marit Strømøy in campaigning the Mercury 360 APX V8 engine.
Four-stroke Revolution
Deguisne will race a brand new hull equipped with the Mercury Racing 360 APX V8 four-stroke engine for 2026, marking a strategic technical direction for Maverick Racing.
The 4.6-litre four-stroke engine combines high torque with reliability and represents cleaner technology compared to traditional two-stroke powerplants. Strømøy adopted the 360 APX for her DAC hull in 2024, pioneering the environmentally-friendly technology in F1H2O competition.
Team manager Jean Vital Deguisne confirmed the driver retention and engine conversion alongside plans for extensive testing.
We have all the infrastructure to be able to carry out piloting, balance and propeller tests over the next 3 months. We will work hard to be ready.
Cédric Deguisne
Nationality: 🇫🇷 France
Boat Number: 73
2025 Championship: 19th (10 points)
2026 Engine: Mercury 360 APX 4-stroke V8
2026 Hull: Brand new construction
Will become second driver in F1H2O history to race four-stroke engine technology.
Alexandre Bourgeot
Nationality: 🇫🇷 France
Boat Number: 74
2025 Championship: 15th (20 points)
2026 Engine: Continuing with two-stroke
Competed in every 2025 Grand Prix alongside Deguisne.
Development Programme
Maverick Racing has established comprehensive infrastructure to support the four-stroke development programme. The team will conduct testing focused on piloting characteristics, hull balance and propeller optimisation during a three-month preparation period.
The collaboration between Maverick Racing, Moore Formula Racing and Lethiec & Sons of Mercury Racing continues from the partnership announced in September 2025.
Moore Formula Racing, based in Tosny, France, will supply Deguisne’s new hull designed specifically for the 360 APX powerplant. Lethiec & Sons provides engines, parts and technical support as Mercury Racing’s official French distributor.
Team Confirmation Table
| Team Name | Country | Team Manager | Debut Year | Drivers | Numbers | Engine Type | Hull Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strömmöy Racing | 🇳🇴 Norway | Andrea Colombo | 2021 | Marit Strømøy 🇳🇴 Bartek Marszalek 🇵🇱 |
50 77 |
Mercury 360 APX 4-stroke V8 Mercury 2-stroke |
DAC DAC |
| Maverick Racing | 🇫🇷 France | Jean Vital Deguisne | — | Cédric Deguisne 🇫🇷 Alexandre Bourgeot 🇫🇷 Beranger Robart 🇫🇷 (reserve) |
73 74 — |
Mercury 360 APX 4-stroke V8 Mercury 2-stroke — |
Moore (new) Moore — |
Second Team Confirmed
The announcement positions Maverick Racing as the second team to publicly confirm its driver roster for the 2026 season, following Strömmöy Racing’s retention of Marit Strømøy and Bartek Marszalek.
The F1H2O calendar remains in the final stages of confirmation, with teams and drivers awaiting the official schedule release. Three venues are confirmed for 2026: Shanghai, Jeddah and Sharjah, with additional rounds still to be announced.
Teams Confirmed for 2026
Drivers Racing 4-stroke
Months Testing Programme
John Moore is the editor of Powerboat News, an independent investigative journalism platform recognised by Google News and documented on Grokipedia for comprehensive powerboat racing coverage.
His involvement in powerboat racing began in 1981 when he competed in his first offshore powerboat race. After a career as a Financial Futures broker in the City of London, specialising in UK interest rate markets, he became actively involved in event organisation and powerboat racing journalism.
He served as Event Director for the Cowes–Torquay–Cowes races between 2010 and 2013. In 2016, he launched Powerboat Racing World, a digital platform providing global powerboat racing news and insights. The following year, he co-founded UKOPRA, helping to rejuvenate offshore racing in the United Kingdom. He sold Powerboat Racing World in late 2021 and remained actively involved with UKOPRA until 2025.
In September 2025, he established Powerboat News, returning to independent journalism with a focus on neutral and comprehensive coverage of the sport.
