Solvang: From World Titles to UIM F2 Ambition

At just 21, André Solvang has already built a remarkable collection of titles. He was a GT30 world champion and went on to claim the triple crown in UIM F4. His 2024 season, his first with Team Sharjah, brought him the UIM F4 World, European and Nordic championships. That success made his step up to Formula 2 with Team Sharjah in 2025 eagerly anticipated.

This season Solvang drives a boat built and designed in the UAE state of Sharjah, powered by a Mercury Racing 250 APX. While most of his rivals continue to rely on the two-stroke Mercury Optimax, including his team-mate Stefan Arand, Solvang has chosen the 4.6-litre V8 four-stroke outboard engine which is set to become the standard power unit in UIM F2.

His debut at Brindisi, the opening round of the 2025 UIM F2 World Championship, provided an immediate indication of his potential. Solvang qualified in third place and finished fourth, a result that underlined both his raw pace and his composure in race conditions.

At the Lithuania Grand Prix, his second race of the season, he gained positions during the heat and crossed the line in the points. At San Nazzaro only qualifying was completed before the race was cancelled due to unsafe conditions. Solvang used the session to evaluate the setup and deepen his understanding of the 250 APX. Taken together, his handling of the opening events reflects a driver approaching the learning curve with maturity and purpose.

Mid-Season Update: Solvang’s start to the 2025 UIM F2 season has been promising. After finishing fourth at Brindisi and scoring points in Lithuania, he has quickly adapted to the new Mercury Racing 250 APX engine and the Sharjah-built boat. Qualifying performances and steady race results demonstrate a driver gaining confidence and learning the intricacies of Formula 2 racing with maturity and purpose.

I first met Solvang in Kupiškis back in 2020 at the UIM GT30 World Championship. Bearing in mind we were in the middle of the Covid pandemic, it was remarkable that the Lithuanian organising team managed to stage the event and that any of us could even travel there. He reminded me recently that this was the last time we had sat down and done a Q&A, so to put that right I asked him about his 2025 UIM F2 season so far.

	André, your debut in Brindisi saw you qualify third and finish fourth. How did it feel to deliver that kind of performance in your very first Formula 2 race weekend?
	I had a really strong qualifying, and it was the perfect way to kick off the season! In the race, I made a small mistake on the first lap that cost me one position, but after that I kept it steady in P4 all the way to the finish. Overall, it is a debut I am really happy with!
You are running the Mercury Racing 250 APX, while many of your rivals remain with the Optimax. What advantages and challenges have you noticed so far with the new four-stroke engine?
It is definitely been a steep learning curve, with a lot of new things to understand and adapt to with this brand-new engine. Not only am I new to the class, but starting out with a completely new engine at the same time has made it both fun and challenging. The biggest advantage is definitely the torque – it pushes really well out of the turns, and the start I had in Klaipeda is a great example of that! On the other hand, the extra weight of the engine can be felt, especially in tight 180-degree turns, where it makes it more difficult to keep everything as smooth as I want.
	Your boat was built and designed in Sharjah. Could you tell us more about Claudio’s design approach and the work of the team?
	Claudio and the whole team have built a fantastic boat, not only in terms of design but also when it comes to safety. It is the first boat equipped with the HALO, which already proved its value when my teammate Stefan, driving the same boat design in F1, had a flying Abu Dhabi boat land right into it. Before building the boat, we had many discussions with the team to find the best setup and measurements to handle this new, heavier engine. Looking at the result, I really think we nailed both the design and the balance of the boat.
You have already achieved a triple crown in F4. What are your short-term goals in F2, and where do you see yourself in the next few seasons?
For me, this was the right time to step up to F2. I had already reached my ultimate goal in F4, so it felt natural to take the next step. Of course, my ambition is to be at the top. That has always been, and will always be, my goal. At the same time, I need to remember that I am now racing with a completely new and different engine, which makes things a bit more challenging. Still, I am confident that we can fight at the front, and the F2 title will always be the ultimate target. For the coming seasons, my focus is to give everything, push for race wins, and continue trying to be at the very top.
	I was chatting with your father Morten in Klaipėda earlier this summer. He has been an amazing supporter of your racing career, but he told me he finds it very stressful. How do you cope with that pressure as a family?
	He has always been my number one supporter, and I definitely would not be where I am today without him. I think a lot of the stress comes from everything being new. We felt the same way when we first started in F4, but in the end it worked out really well. It is really just about finding the rhythm, the more we learn, the less stressful it will become. This season we have had quite a few minor issues, which made things more challenging than they needed to be, but I feel confident now that we have figured everything out.
Away from racing, you have recently qualified as a ship’s officer. How does life at sea compare with life in a Formula 2 cockpit, and do you find the two disciplines influence one another?
For me, it is the perfect balance, either pushing a race boat to 200 kph or driving a cruise ship with 2,300 passengers at 22 knots. I am very fortunate to work for a company that understands my passion for racing, and gives me the time to chase it. Whenever my work schedule collides with a race weekend, they make sure I can be there on the start line. As long as I can keep combining these two paths the way I do now, I honestly feel like I could keep living this lifestyle for a very long time.

Career Timeline & Notable Achievements

John Moore

John Moore has a longstanding involvement in event organisation and powerboat racing journalism. He organised the historic Cowes–Torquay–Cowes races between 2010 and 2013 and was actively involved with British offshore racing from 2017 until 2025.

In 2017, Moore founded Powerboat Racing World, a digital platform providing global powerboat racing news, insights, and event coverage.

He is now Editor of Powerboat.News, continuing to contribute to the sport’s media landscape with in-depth reporting and analysis.