What New Race Will Teams Owned by Rafael Nadal and Formula 1 Driver Sergio Perez Be Competing in Later This Year?

The short answer is: The E1 World Championship series that features futuristic, all-electric, hydrofoiling powerboats competing around the world. But there’s way more to the E1 series than just another boat race series. 

The 22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal is not only a legendary competitor at the absolute pinnacle of his sport, he’s also a passionate owner of a Sunreef catamaran who cares deeply about the ocean and is hugely supportive of E1’s mission to accelerate clean mobility and restore marine ecosystems.

“I’m really excited to be getting involved with a project like E1 that values sustainability and will make a positive impact on society as a whole, especially in coastal communities,” Nadal said recently. “I also like the fact that E1 has a clear mission and is committed to preserving marine ecosystems. As a professional athlete, I recognize how making marginal gains has a positive impact on performance. To see this same competitive spirit and approach being applied at E1 to optimize the performance and efficiency of sustainable marine mobility is good news for our oceans.”

Nadal’s new racing outfit will compete against other teams who have already signed up to participate in the championship, including the Venice Racing Team and Red Bull Formula 1 driver Sergio Perez’s team that’s affiliated with his native Mexico.

According to E1’s Co-Founder & Chairman Alejandro Agag, the partnership with Nadal and E1 is expected to extend beyond racing to include the launch of an international thought leadership event, focused on the theme of sport and sustainability. The idea is to bring the world’s leading sustainability experts together at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca to examine the next level of thinking on sustainability and highlight the positive role that sport can play in advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

“It’s incredible news to have a name like Rafael Nadal join the E1 World Championship,” Agag says. “He’s not only one of the greatest tennis players of all time, he’s also a sporting icon who has transcended his sport. Speaking with Nadal, I immediately understood how important sustainability is to him and his passion for the ocean. E1’s mission is to accelerate clean mobility and restore marine ecosystems, which I know Nadal and his team feel strongly about. I’d like to thank Nadal and his family for welcoming us at his academy, and we wish him the best of luck in preparation for his next tournament. Vamos Rafa!”

Meanwhile, Perez is a longtime friend of Agag, who was the former team principal and owner of the Barwa Addax team in GP2, who Perez raced for earlier in his career.

“I’m really excited at the prospect of becoming a new team owner in E1 and having a team representing Mexico in the UIM E1 World Championship,” Perez says.

“Given my relationship with Alejandro, I’ve kept a close eye on what he’s been doing and his various championships, and I think what he’s achieved with promoting more sustainable forms of motorsport is commendable. Seeing a racing team flying the flag for Mexico on a global stage will be amazing.”

The eagerly anticipated first season of the E1 World Championship is scheduled to get underway later this year. Stay tuned for more news to come.