LeBron James joins Tom Brady and Rafael Nadal as E1 team owner
NBA icon LeBron James is the latest in a line of sporting legends to join the all-electric E1 power boat series as the owner of the Team AlUla outfit.
Alongside James, other sports icons to have involved themselves with E1 include Tom Brady, Rafael Nadal, and Didier Drogba, while the likes of Will Smith and DJ Steve Aoki have also joined the series from the celebrity world.
“For me, I’m a huge fan of sports and I’ve always loved competing,” said James. “There’s nothing like seeing athletes compete at the highest level of their sport. Now with E1, we’re seeing a whole new type of competition on the water where everything is elevated.”
The boat used in E1 is called the RaceBird and was designed by SeaBird Technologies. The vessel’selectric motor has a power output of 150kW (203bhp) and a battery capacity of 35kWh. The RaceBird can reach a top speed of 58mph (50 knots).
Described as “F1 on water” by its co-founder, Alejandro Agag, E1 sees 18 drivers from nine teams compete in a series of World Rallycross-style events over a two-day race weekend. The weekend comprises testing, free practice, and qualifying on the first day, while the semi-finals, play-off race, eliminator race, place race, and finals all take place on the second day.
“The skill of the pilots, the technology of the RaceBirds, the sustainability piece of it – it’s pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in water racing and innovating the sport in incredible ways,” James said in the run up to the 2025 E1 season opener in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. “I’m excited to have our own team this season, and we’re ready to compete on a global scale.”
The season opener was won by Team Aoki. Nadal’s Team Rafa was second, while Team Blue Rising owned by Indian cricket player, Virat Kohli, secured their maiden E1 podium in third.
James’ Team AlUla pilots drivers Katie Munnings and Rusty Wyatt failed to exploit their strong start to the event in front of the 4,500-strong crowd. Both failed to make the second day finals, and rounded out the event in ninth and 17th.
The next round of the 2025 E1 season begins in Doha on February 22.
