Team Abu Dhabi prepares for Shanghai showdown in F1H2O World Championship
The Abu Dhabi Marine Sports Club delegation departs for China to contest the third round of the season, carrying a one-point lead in the teams' championship into a pivotal encounter.
Team Abu Dhabi is poised to travel to Shanghai for the third round of the UIM F1H2O World Championship on 4th and 5th October 2026, seeking to consolidate its commanding position in the season’s title races.
The Emirati outfit arrives in China with considerable momentum, leading the teams’ championship with 61 points—a slender one-point advantage over Victory Team. The competitive landscape remains fierce, with Sharjah Team and Stromoy Racing each holding 53 points, underlining the significance of the Shanghai Grand Prix in the championship narrative.
Heading the delegation is Director Juma Al Qubaisi, whose role encompasses team supervision and radio operations. The squad includes driver Rashed Al Qemzi, reserve driver Mansoor Al Mansoori, and Majed Al Mansoori in an assistant technical capacity.
Team Abu Dhabi will field a distinguished three-boat entry comprising Jonas Andersson in boat No. 5, Erik Stark in boat No. 6, and Rashed Al Qemzi in boat No. 35—a blend of international expertise and Emirati talent. The team’s logistics operations benefit from the partnership with AD Ports Group.
In the drivers’ championship standings, Andersson occupies fourth position with 31 points, nine adrift of leader Shaun Torrente. Stark sits joint fifth with 30 points, whilst Rashed Al Qemzi carries 11 points into the Chinese round. Each pilot will endeavour to extend their championship totals and climb the rankings.
The team arrives in Shanghai following an impressive performance at Lake Issyk-Kul in Kyrgyzstan, where Andersson secured pole position and claimed victory in one sprint race, whilst Stark finished second in the main event. These achievements elevated Team Abu Dhabi to the championship summit.
Technical preparations harness the expertise of Guido Cappellini and the management oversight of Thani Al Qemzi, with emphasis placed upon performance enhancement and driver-crew coordination. Majed Al Mansoori continues to oversee critical technical and development initiatives.
The Shanghai course, situated in the Baoshan district, presents demanding conditions requiring exceptional precision in variable water circumstances. According to the championship schedule, technical scrutineering and driver registration commence on 3rd October, with free practice, qualifying and sprint races following on 4th October. The main race takes place on 5th October.
Shanghai serves as the penultimate stage before the season finale in Sharjah, investing this round with additional gravitas as the championship landscape crystallises ahead of the concluding encounter in the UAE.
Source: WAM