Tuesday, December 30: Just over a week after the 2025 UIM F1H2O World Championship reached its dramatic conclusion at the Road to Sharjah-Grand Prix of Sharjah, two teams have already made initial announcements about plans for the 2026 season.
Team Abu Dhabi confirmed via a social media post that it has renewed its contracts with the Emirati racing duo of Rashid Al-Qemzi and Mansoor Al-Mansoori, while appointing long-time team servant Jumma Al-Qubaisi as supervisor of the powerboat operation under the guidance of executive director and race veteran Thani Al-Qamzi and team manager and 10-time world champion Guido Cappellini.
Maverick Racing also announced via an FFM press release in France that team driver Cédric Deguisne will switch to running a four-stroke Mercury 360 APX V8-engined Moore for the 2026 season, while team-mate Alexandre Bourgeot is expected to persevere with the two-stroke engine set-up.
This decision will see Deguisne lining up as the second driver to campaign the heavier V8 power plant in the UIM F1H2O World Championship.
Strømøy Racing’s Marit Strømøy has been developing the engine over the last three seasons and finished 12th in the 2025 Drivers’ Championship. The Norwegian’s best result was fifth place in the Grand Prix of Lake Toba, Indonesia.
