The banks of the Huangpu River in Shanghai witnessed one of the most dramatic races of the UIM F1H2O World Championship on Saturday, October 4, as Sweden’s Jonas Andersson produced a masterclass of resilience and precision. The three-time World Champion powered past pole-sitter Shaun Torrente of Victory Team and navigated a series of yellow-flag interruptions to claim his 17th career Grand Prix victory.
This win proved decisive in the title battle. With Sharjah’s Rusty Wyatt — who had led the championship standings — forced out of the race on lap 12, Andersson seized the opportunity to climb three points clear in the championship. The defending champion, who started fourth on the grid after a difficult qualifying session, made an aggressive start, closing down Torrente’s lead within the opening laps. The decisive moment came on lap 11, when a tight maneuver allowed the Swede to snatch the lead. From then on, despite three interruptions caused by accidents on the 1.7km course, Andersson kept his composure and his rival at bay until the race concluded under yet another yellow flag.
Victory was sweetened further for Team Sweden with Grant Trask delivering an exceptional performance on his debut, steering clear of chaos to finish in third place. The result not only gave the team a double podium but also lifted them to third in the Teams’ Championship standings, behind Victory Team and Sharjah.
Speaking after the race, Andersson expressed relief and pride: “We struggled in qualifying, but I changed the set-up and the boat was fantastic today. The start was perfect. I’m so happy for the whole team, they’ve worked incredibly hard. This win is for them. Grant was amazing too – his drive to third on his debut shows just how strong we are as a team.”
Torrente, meanwhile, accepted second place with pragmatism: “I wasn’t going to take unnecessary risks. After Jonas passed, I focused on defending my position and securing good points for the championship. I’ll take second — it’s part of the bigger picture.”
Among the standout performances was Estonian talent Stefan Arand of the Sharjah Team. Despite starting 19th after an engine change, Arand stormed through the field with daring overtakes and sharp racecraft to finish in a remarkable fourth place, just behind Trask. Team Abu Dhabi’s Erik Stark had to settle for fifth, while Alec Weckström of Victory Team collected valuable points in sixth, keeping himself in close contention for the Drivers’ title.
The rest of the top ten was rounded out by Ferdinand Zandbergen (Red Devil-SMC), Peter Morin (China CTIC Team), Damon Cohen (Australia), and Cédric Deguisne (Maverick Racing). Only 12 of the 20 starters managed to reach the chequered flag in what was a race marked by high drama, spectacular crashes, and three major stoppages.
For Andersson, however, the Shanghai Grand Prix was not just another victory — it was a turning point in the 2025 championship fight. With momentum now firmly in his corner, the defending champion signaled his intent to chase down a fourth world title, while rivals like Torrente, Wyatt, and Weckström look to regroup ahead of the next round.
The UIM F1H2O World Championship continues to prove why it is one of the most thrilling series in powerboat racing, and Shanghai will be remembered as a race where skill, strategy, and endurance came together in spectacular fashion.
Photo by H2O Racing