Superstars & sustainability converge in Miami.
The world’s first electric powerboat racing championship touched down in the Magic City, transforming Biscayne Bay into a futuristic aquatic arena where cutting-edge technology, celebrity star-power, and Miami’s signature glamour collided in spectacular fashion.
Miami, of course, never misses a moment to dazzle—or to name-drop. The E1 Series finale drew a constellation of cultural heavyweights from sports, entertainment, and global business. Among the elite team owners: Tom Brady, with Team Brady (American Super Bowl Champion quarterback); Rafael Nadal with Team Rafa (Spanish Tennis superstar); Virat Kohli with Team Blue Rising (Indian Cricketer); Will Smith with Westbrook Racing (American entertainer); LeBron James with Team AlUla (America basketball star); Didier Drogba with Drogba Global Africa (Ivory Coast soccer champion); Steve Aoki with Aoki Racing (American DJ/Record Producer); Marc Anthony with Team Miami powered by Magnus (American singer) and Marcelo Claure with Team Brazil by Claure Group (American/Bolivian billionaire entrepreneur).
Their shared obsession? A mesmerizing new icon of sustainable speed—the E1 RaceBird. This 24-foot, all-electric hydrofoiling powerboat, capable of reaching 50 knots (58 mph), looks less like a vessel and more like a creature escaped from the future. Conceived by Norway-born, Sweden-raised designer Sophi Horne of Seabird Technologies, the RaceBird draws inspiration from the effortless glide of birds skimming the water’s surface.
The idea for the E1 Series emerged during the quiet of the pandemic, when co-founders Alejandro Agag and Rodi Bassi, strolling along London’s Thames River, envisioned bringing electric racing to the world’s waterways—a marine counterpart to Formula E. The sport is notably coed, with each team fielding two pilots and only one in the cockpit at a time, and the very craft itself created by a pioneering female designer.
After debuting in 2024, the 2025 season swept across global waters—from Jeddah and Doha to Dubrovnik, Lago Maggiore, Monaco, and Lagos—culminating in its high-gloss American finale in Miami. With the city’s iconic skyline as its backdrop, the Miami Seaplane Base became a vibrant fusion of racing intensity and beach-club exuberance.
The E1 Ocean Club set the tone: a collision of Monaco-style yacht glamour and Miami’s pulsating party culture. Guests sipped Bombay Sapphire Sparkling Lemon signature cocktails under the sun, rehydrated with Icelandic Glacial water, and grazed on gourmet bites. A Cirque du Soleil performance delivered a dose of high-art spectacle, while a lineup of DJs kept energy levels surging throughout the weekend.
On the water, competition matched the spectacle. In a silent yet nail-biting electric duel, Team Brady and Team Rafa battled for the championship—Brady’s squad ultimately claiming their second consecutive E1 title. Team Aoki secured a strong third-place finish. Team Brady’s Finnish pilot, Emma Kimiläinen, was named PIF Pilot of the Race—an especially remarkable feat for someone who had never piloted a boat before joining the league.
True to Miami fashion, the podium celebration turned into an unforgettable moment. Rather than sulk over his team’s loss, Will Smith stormed the stage, erupting into his iconic hit “Welcome to Miami” while dousing pilots and fans in a champagne shower.
Beyond the glamour and star power, sustainability stood at the heart of the event. Team Brady partnered with the 4Ocean Foundation, pledging to remove 100 kilograms of ocean plastic for every point earned—a commitment amplified by the team’s pilots personally collecting marine debris between races on a nearby Miami island. It was a meaningful reminder that the future of racing can—and should—respect the waters that host it.
With the Miami finale, electric powerboat racing has made its grand entrance into the global luxury-sport spotlight. More destinations are already vying for their moment on the water, with Tom Brady himself hinting at a dream race around the Statue of Liberty. San Francisco is also emerging as a likely contender.
The UIM E1 World Championship, presented by PIF, has officially launched a new chapter where innovation, sustainability, and spectacle move in unison—from coastal grandstands to glittering city skylines. Fans can relive the full Miami Grand Prix Final on the E1 Series YouTube channel.
Hope Gainer
