E1 Lagos Grand Prix: Where Speed Meets Sustainability on the Water

04 Oct 2025

E1 Lagos Grand Prix: Where Speed Meets Sustainability on the Water

By EVWorld.com Si Editorial Team

RaceBirds skim across Lagos Lagoon in the world’s first all-electric offshore powerboat championship.

By EVWorld.com Si Editorial Team

Lagos Lagoon roared to life as the world’s first all-electric offshore powerboat championship touched down in Africa. The UIM E1 World Championship, often called the “Formula E of the seas,” delivered a spectacle of hydrofoiling RaceBirds, celebrity-backed teams, and zero-emission thrills that redefined marine motorsport.

The RaceBirds—uniform in design and power—are sleek, 24-foot electric hydrofoils powered by 150 kW motors and 35 kWh lithium-ion batteries. They skimmed across the water at speeds topping 50 knots, lifting above the surface on dual foils like futuristic sea birds in flight. With identical specs across all teams, victory came down to pilot skill, strategy, and split-second decision-making.

Day 1 saw tight qualifying rounds and dramatic overtakes, with Team Drogba (Didier Drogba) and Team Miami (Marc Anthony) trading leads in the early heats. But it was Team AlUla, owned by LeBron James, that stole the show on Day 2—executing flawless turns and dominating the knockout round to clinch the Lagos title. The final heat was a nail-biter, with Team Rafa (Rafael Nadal) narrowly missing the podium after a late surge.

Beyond the racing, Lagos embraced the event as a platform for clean marine innovation. The city’s selection was strategic: a vibrant waterfront, growing interest in green shipping, and a desire to showcase Africa’s role in the global energy transition. Local leaders used the event to spotlight electric ferry initiatives, sustainable tourism, and tech investment in coastal infrastructure.

Spectators lined the lagoon, cheering as RaceBirds danced across the water with silent precision. The event blended sport with purpose—every lap a statement about what marine mobility can become. And with one final day of racing and celebration still ahead, Lagos continues to prove that electrification isn’t just for land—it’s for the oceans too.