Team Brady takes pole in tense qualifier ahead of tomorrow’s E1 Lago Maggiore GP

NFL icon Tom Brady’s Team Brady stormed to pole in qualifying for the E1 Lago Maggiore GP in Italy.

 Team Brady Pilots Sam Coleman and Emma Kimiläinen had the speed in the E1 RaceBird ahead of race day on Saturday overcoming Team Rafa in second and Team Drogba in third. 

 As the Championship reaches the midway point of the season, the race will mark a return to Italy, the birthplace of modern hydrofoiling and where the innovative E1 RaceBird, engineered by Italian founder and CEO Rodi Basso, was first tested.

 The E1 Lake Maggiore GP follows a weekend of exhilarating racing in Dubrovnik which saw Aoki Racing Team, owned by international superstar DJ Steve Aoki, secure their second win of the year and move into a small 16-point Championship lead. With Aoki Racing Team and Team Raffa battling for first and second place in championship to date, a win for Team Brady tomorrow at the final could make the championship battle even more intense. 

 Sam Coleman, who piloted the Team Brady E1 RaceBird for the final qualifying round said: ‘It was tough and there were some challenging conditions. Thanks to my team and everybody who made this happen – let’s keep pushing.’ 

 Fans and spectators who want to come and witness the final tomorrow for themselves from the E1 Acceleration Festival can register for tickets here. They will also have a chance to see and read about ‘Frankie’, the very early E1 proof of concept boat. 

 Plus those in Italy can watch from home by tuning in to DAZN’s coverage of the Finals. 

 Organised under the Patronage of the Region of Lombardy and the President of the Region Mr Attilio Fontana, the race is being hosted at Marina di Verbella, the premier facility which has been home to the E1 Pilot Academy training programme that finds, develops and nurtures future E1 racing stars. Located within the Ticino Natural Park, the racecourse is sheltered from winds and waves, offering optimal racing conditions for the equal mix of male and female pilots to get the very best speeds out of their E1 RaceBirds, which reach up to 93kph (50knots). 

 Lake Maggiore has a rich history of marine innovation with Italian Enrico Forlanini conducting the earliest experiments of the technology there in 1906 before the first commercial passenger hydrofoil service launched in 1953. 

 Rodi Basso, E1 founder and Chief Executive Officer, said “Seeing the nine teams put the E1 RaceBirds through their qualifying paces on the calm waters where they were first tested here in Lake Maggiore, Italy, has been incredible to watch. 

 “With the 2025 Championship battle heating up at the halfway point of the season, it’s looking like the competitors are ready to put on a spectacular race day show tomorrow for the fans watching here and around the world.”