MAIDEN 2026 PODIUM FOR TEAM MIAMI IN MONACO

Sports.com Predict Team Miami powered by MAGNUS took on the iconic Monaco harbour this weekend and came out triumphant, landing their first podium of the season with P3 in the Principality.

This was the first time Team Miami pilots Timmy Hansen and Rianna O'Meara-Hunt had taken to Monaco’s waters, aiming to gain valuable points to climb the UIM E1 World Championship standings as we reach the halfway point of the 2026 season.

It was a frustrating start on Friday for Team Miami, with a ninth-place finish in the opening qualifying session bringing the day’s campaign to an early end. Despite a determined performance, Hansen and O’Meara-Hunt missed out on a place in Q2 by less than three tenths of a second.

The Miami squad bounced back in Saturday’s opening races with an impressive display from both pilots, securing a place in the afternoon’s Race Off. Hansen was first on the water and worked his way through the field to claim a hard-fought third-place finish in the first Group A race.

O'Meara-Hunt maintained that momentum in her stint, delivering consistently competitive lap times and brilliantly executing the team's strategy to secure second place and her best Heat finish of the season.

Hansen once again showcased his race craft by delivering a strong performance in the Race Off. After spending the opening lap tucked in behind the field through the challenging choppy conditions, the Swede gradually picked off his rivals. The strategy paid off in dramatic fashion, as he passed Team Aoki in the final stretch to snatch a second-place finish and a spot in the Finals.

With the pressure building ahead of Final 1, O'Meara-Hunt's race got off to a difficult start when a first-corner incident resulted in contact from Team Brady's Emma Kimiläinen. The collision left her with significant ground to recover, forcing her into a fight back for the remainder of the race. Despite her determined efforts, O’Meara-Hunt crossed the line in sixth place.

Starting from the outside for the all-important Final 2, Hansen wasted no time in climbing the leaderboard. Mirroring the strategy that proved successful in the Race Off, he opted to complete his long lap early before saving the shorter route for the closing stages. The tactic paid off, propelling Hansen into third place and securing Team Miami's first podium finish of the 2026 season.

Team Miami now looks ahead to E1’s debut in Luanda, Angola, taking place from 11-12 September.

Steve Curtis, Team Principal: “I'm incredibly proud of the whole team. It would have been easy to let the Qualifying result define our weekend, but everyone responded brilliantly. Timmy and Rianna both drove exceptionally well and showed the resilience we've been building all season. To secure our first podium together in Monaco is a fantastic achievement, and it's a result that gives us real confidence as we head into the second half of the season.”

Timmy Hansen: “To come away from Monaco with our first podium of the season feels fantastic. After Qualifying, we knew we had work to do, but everyone stayed focused. The Race Off gave us confidence, and in the Final we made the strategy count. The team has been working incredibly hard for this result, so it's a great reward and hopefully there is more to come this season.”

Rianna O’Meara-Hunt: “Monaco was a real rollercoaster for us. We showed throughout Saturday that we had pace, so it was disappointing that my Final didn't go to plan after the contact in the opening corner - but that's racing. The important thing is that we stayed positive, kept pushing, and came away with a podium. It gives us real momentum heading into Luanda.”