Team Brady Open E1 2026 Season with Pole in Jeddah

The UIM E1 World Championship presented by PIF debuted its new qualifying format at the E1 Jeddah GP 2026, with Team Brady securing pole position for the first race day of the 2026 season. Emma Kimiläinen, two-time defending Champions of the Water, was at the wheel of her E1 RaceBird and started the season by taking the lead of the standings.

The teams and pilots were put through three elimination sessions in the battle to be the fastest qualifier. Team Miami and Team Blue Rising were eliminated in the Qualifying Time Trials while new contenders, Team Monaco and Sierra Racing Club both managed to advance into Q1 in their first E1 event. Monaco’s adventure didn’t go any further as they were eliminated along with Team AlUla, while Sierra Racing Club and Team Drogba Global Africa were knocked out in Q2.

That left four boats to battle for pole; Westbrook, Rafa, Aoki, Brady. Tom Brady’s team were the favourites coming into the fight after they had topped the times in both Q1 and Q2. On the first run in the shootout, Kimiläinen laid down the gauntlet, going more than three seconds clear of her competitors and putting Brady on provisional pole.

Will Smith’s team, Westbrook Racing Team, had been fastest in Qualifying Time Trials. Sara Price was their chosen pilot for the shootout and secured fourth in Qualifying. 

Tom Chiappe looked strong in the first part of his final lap but the time slipped away from the Frenchman and Team Rafa as they were forced to settle for third. Aoki Racing’s Dani Clos slotted into second place, missing out on top spot by 1.7 seconds.

Team Brady, though, had an unassailable advantage and secured pole position, leaving them at the top of the championship at this very early stage of the season.