Photo by Michele Eve Sandberg
Audio By Carbonatix
Coming in just under the wire before a cold snap sent Miamians sprinting for their Uggs this week, celebrities including Will Smith, Marc Anthony, Rafael Nadal, and even Mayor Francis Suarez enjoyed a weekend out on the water for the E1 World Championship at the Miami Seaplane Base on Watson Island.
The conclusion of the electric powerboat racing season, the Miami race was the series championship and E1’s inaugural U.S. event. The event has been described as the “electric Formula 1 of the water,” and indeed has some backing from former F1 figures.
Going into the race, Team Rafa, owned by former tennis player Rafael Nadal, nipped at the heels of Team Brady, owned by seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady. The former NFL player’s team won the championship last year.
In the end, Team Brady took home the winning trophy for the second year in a row, making it the team to beat in a racing series that only began last year.
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“Two championships don’t just happen. They’re earned through relentless effort, total commitment, and belief in each other,” he said in a statement. ‘We’ve proven what’s possible when you chase greatness with everything you’ve got — and trust me, we’re only getting started.”
With days of activations leading into the race and a successful weekend out on the water, E1 is likely here to stay. Missed the action? Here’s a glimpse at what went down during the first-ever E1 race in Miami.

Photo by Michele Eve Sandberg

Photo by Michele Eve Sandberg

Photo by Michele Eve Sandberg

Photo by Michele Eve Sandberg

Photo by Michele Eve Sandberg

Photo by Michele Eve Sandberg

Photo by Michele Eve Sandberg

Photo by Michele Eve Sandberg

Photo by Michele Eve Sandberg

Photo by Michele Eve Sandberg

Photo by Michele Eve Sandberg

Photo by Michele Eve Sandberg

Photo by Michele Eve Sandberg