Will Smith’s team powers to E1 glory in Lake Como GP to take early World Championship lead
Hollywood icon Will Smith’s E1 team surged to victory today at the E1 Lake Como GP 2026 presented by Villa d'Este to take an early Championship lead.
Smith’s Angola Westbrook Racing pilots Sara Price and Lucas Ordóñez recorded their second-ever win, repeating their 2024 victory on the lake after overpowering the competition in the Finals.
It had initially been a challenging day for Westbrook after Price had picked up damage in the early stages leading to repairs. Despite that, they came through to take victory in both Final 1 and Final 2.
John Peeters for Virat Kohli’s Team Blue Rising entered the weekend at the bottom of the Championship but the American pilot produced two incredible starts, coming from the outside lane to take the lead in the first in two races. That feat earned him the PIF Pilot of the Day Award, and helped secure second place at the end of the Finals.
Aoki Racing and Team Brady both managed to make the Final but it was only Brady who made the podium. Emma Kimiläinen damaged her E1 RaceBird after colliding with a course mark in Final 1, but teammate Sam Coleman was able to nurse the Brady E1 RaceBird home to finish in third, leaving them just three points adrift of Westbrook at the top of the Championship.
While Smith’s team had not been on the podium since their victory the last time E1 visited Lake Como two years ago, they now leave the Italian lakes top of the standings with just 14 points covering the top four.
Will Smith was jubilant after the victory, saying in the team owner group chat: "Finally! That one felt good." He joked: "Wait, why's Brady declining my calls?"
Despite his team’s confidence of a win going into the race, LeBron was among the first to offer his congratulations to his E1 rival, saying: "Congratulations Will, amazing job by your team."
Off the water, the race marked the first time new Sierra Racing Club co-owners Thibaut Courtois and Kyle Kuzma experienced the UIM E1 World Championship presented by PIF first-hand.
The Real Madrid goalkeeper was given a warm welcome into the fold, with Brady and Aoki leading the reception in the team owner group chat. "My brother Thibaut!! Welcome to the club!!" wrote Aoki, while Brady kept it characteristically punchy, greeting his new co-owner with his famous nickname: "The Wall! Thibaut!! Join the party."
Jamie Copas, Chief Executive Officer, E1, said: “Congratulations to Will Smith and everyone at the Westbrook team on a hard-fought and well-deserved victory. It’s been a race full of star power and entertainment.
“Fans, guests and our new team owners Thibaut Courtois and Kyle Kuzma, were able to experience first-hand an incredible day of foil-to-foil racing here at Villa d’Este on Lake Como.
“E1 now leaves Como with the Championship battle poised for the next round of the European leg of the season and the third race of the Championship as we next head to Dubrovnik in only a month.”
