Update
Team Brady has sealed victory at the E1 Monaco 2024 presented by BRETT following a weekend of fiercely competitive racing on the shores of the glamorous principality.
The team – owned by NFL legend Tom Brady who was in Monaco to witness the win – now returns to the summit of the UIM E1 World Championship standings after their early domination of the inaugural series.
Team Brady pilots Sam Coleman and Emma Kimiläinen struggled in qualifying on Saturday but were able to perform at the right time on race day, soaking up the pressure from the fleet across two dramatic final races.
Team Drogba, watched on by owner and African football legend Didier Drogba, finished in second place to secure its first podium place of the season. They were followed narrowly by Rafael Nadal’s Team Rafa in third which had started the day in pole position.
The fast, furious and at times nerve-wracking Finals saw five teams go head-to-head: Team Brady, Team Rafa, Team Blue Rising, Team Drogba and Westbrook Racing.
In the first Finals race, Yousef Al-Abdulrazzaq of Team Drogba expertly secured first place with a gap of over 15 seconds ahead of Team Brady. Westbrook Racing followed by Team Blue Rising and Team Rafa requiring a big turn in the second final leg to secure a podium spot.
The second Finals race saw Team Rafa, piloted by Tom Chiappe, secure a stunning victory that was enough to propel the team onto the podium for the first time since Jeddah.
With the combined results of both Finals, Team Brady’s two second place finishes earned them a top spot on the podium. In a ceremony following the race, the team were awarded their trophy by HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco who had attended the first-of-its-kind event.
“It’s great to see the team win here in Monaco. The teamwork has been incredible – all weekend we’ve been grinding through different issues but we proved again that we can deal with any conditions. I am so proud of Emma, Sam, the whole team and the resilience that we have. I have full confidence and we’re going to keep fighting. I love our team and I love what we are doing” says Tom Brady, American football quarterback
Drama on the water saw the first yellow cards of the season issued to Team Aoki and Sergio Perez E1 Team for dangerous driving. If issued another, the pilots involved risk suspension for the remainder of the season. Meanwhile, previous season leaders Team Miami powered by Magnus were eliminated in the Race Off with a DNF, and Team Brazil completed the remaining teams eliminated before the Finals.
E1 Monaco 2024 presented by BRETT marked the championship’s debut appearance in the Principality, as the future of racing entered the home of racing. The illustrious Yacht Club de Monaco played host to the series as celebrities from the worlds of sport and entertainment converged on the Mediterranean coastline.
During the race weekend Westbrook Racing, the team owned by the iconic actor Will Smith, announced a new partnership with Run Blue, a global campaign dedicated to solving the world’s water crisis. The collaboration marks the beginning of a powerful alliance committed to sustainability, innovation, and raising awareness about critical environmental issues.
“To see our revolutionary electric racing series come to life in the capital of yachting is an incredibly special feeling. The weekend not only provided a spectacular festival of racing but also an opportunity to instigate change and accelerate our mission to work with partners to develop clean technologies for marine mobility” says Rodi Basso, CEO & Co-founder of E1
Team Rafa races to pole position as E1 arrives in Monaco for the first time
The UIM E1 World Championship, the world’s first all-electric raceboat series, arrived in Monaco for the first time today as Team Rafa, owned by tennis legend Rafael Nadal, topped a breathless qualification session.
Team Rafa pilots Tom Chiappe and Cris Lazarraga sealed pole position after a day of fierce racing to overcome Team Aoki in second place and Team Drogba in third.
The result has set the stage for a thrilling race day on Sunday as the Championship’s nine teams look to topple league leaders Team Miami powered by Magnus after placing fifth in qualifying.
The session marked the Championship’s first competitiveouting for the RaceBird, the series’ pioneering electric raceboat, as Monaco, the home of racing, provided a stunning backdrop to a day of high-adrenaline action.
Monegasque pilot, Lisa Caussin-Battaglia, racing in her home race, ended qualifying in fifth place alongside her Team Blue Rising co-pilot Phelim Kavanagh.
Qualifying order
- Team Rafa – 1:34.074
- Aoki Racing – 1:36.700
- Team Drogba – 1:37.292
- Team Blue Rising – 1:37.772
- Team Miami powered by Magnus – 1:39.722
- Team Brady – 1:40.715
- Team Brazil by Claure Group – 1:42.359
- Sergio Perez E1 Team – 1:47.700
- Westbrook Racing – 1:47.865
