ABU DHABI: Sweden’s Jonas Andersson clinched his third UIM F1H2O World Championship title with a commanding victory in the Grand Prix of Sharjah on Sunday.
Andersson shrugged off the challenge of compatriot Erik Stark, whose second-place finish gave him third position in the championship on his final appearance for Victory Team before joining Team Abu Dhabi next season.
Stark’s new teammate for the 2025 season, Thani Al-Qemzi, produced an outstanding drive to finish fourth, storming through the field after being forced to start 15th because of an engine change following the previous day’s sprint races.
Sharjah Team’s Rusty Wyatt also signed off in style at the end of a superb debut season, climbing from 10th to take the other podium place, and clinching the runner-up spot in the championship.
Andersson’s second Grand Prix victory of the season was also enough to crown Team Vietnam as F1H2O world team champions in their maiden campaign.
That team title will be the first target for Al-Qemzi when he is reunited with Stark next season, having helped Team Abu Dhabi win it for the fifth time in a row two years ago.
Stark will take over from Rashed Al-Qemzi, the five-time F2 world champion, who finished 14th.
Ahead of his 158th F1H2O Grand Prix on Khalid Lagoon, 24 years after making his first championship appearance there, veteran Emirati driver Thani had high hopes of rounding off the season with a podium finish.
While his fine third place in qualifying was undermined by the engine issue, his achievement in clawing back 11 places over 32 laps showed he still has the fighting spirit, and skill, to be a serious challenger next season.
After Wyatt’s elimination from qualifying for dangerous driving, Andersson knew only a major mistake on his part, or a mechanical error, could surrender the world title to the Canadian rookie.
While he was never allowed to relax, as Stark kept up the pressure in the hope of a sixth career F1H2O Grand Prix victory, the Swede kept his composure as he added to his world title triumphs in 2021 and 2023.
