High-speed crash ends qualifying as E1 makes dramatic Monaco return
Monaco – July 18, 2025 – A high-speed crash resulted in heavy damage to Team Rafa’s E1 RaceBird, a red flag and an early end to qualifying for tomorrow’s E1 Monaco race.
Tennis star Rafael Nadel was watching from the sidelines and witnessed the collision between his team and Team Brazil by Claure Group. Team Rafa’s French pilot Tom Chiappe emerged unscathed.
The UIM E1 World Championship presented by PIF, the world’s first all-eclectic raceboat series, returned to Monaco with the on-water drama resulting in the qualifying session being stopped. This marks the first time in the Championship’s history that qualifying has ended prematurely with a red flag.
Tom Chiappe jumped clear of his E1 RaceBird to nearby waiting safety crews as it began taking on water as a result of the damage sustained. His visibly concerned co-pilot Cris Lazaraga witnessed the drama unfold from the paddock.
Speaking after the incident in Monaco, Rafael Nadal reacted to the crash saying, “It was scary. Seeing it in real-time, I was worried for Tom. From the sidelines it looked dangerous. The main thing is he’s okay, he’s healthy. Everything else doesn’t matter when you go through something like this.”
With Team Rafa current Championship leaders, they will be hoping to bounce back as they bid to extend their lead over their closest rivals, Aoki Racing Team.
- ENDS -
Notes to editors
Qualifying race results:
1.Team Brady
2. Team Blue Rising
3. Team Drogba
4. Aoki Racing Team
5. Westbrook Racing
6. Team AlUla Championed by LeBron James
7. Team Brazil by Claure Group
8. Team Rafa
9. Team Miami
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About the UIM E1 World Championship presented by PIF
E1 is the world’s first and only all-electric raceboat championship sanctioned by the Union Internationale Motonautique (UIM), the international governing body for powerboating activities. The UIM E1 World Championship presented by PIF was established to create a new, exciting and competitive on-water racing Championship using electric technologies to focus efforts on innovations that help protect and restore our urban waters and coastal areas.
The Championship sees teams featuring both a male and female pilot. Racing on the water in iconic cities around the world including Jeddah, Doha, Monaco, and Miami, teams are owned by some of the biggest names on the planet. These already include Will Smith, Marc Anthony and Steve Aoki from the world of entertainment, LeBron James, Rafael Nadal, Tom Brady, Virat Kohli and Didier Drogba from the world of sport and Marcelo Claure from the world of business.
E1 pilots navigate tight and technical circuits behind the wheel of the electric RaceBirds. For the latest news and updates, follow us at @E1Series on Facebook, X and Instagram. #ChampionsOfTheWater