Jonas Andersson took pole position and won a sprint race at Issyk-Kul in Kyrgyzstan. Erik Stark finished second in the main race.
Now Abu Dhabi head to Shanghai with 61 points at the top of the teams' standings, one ahead of Victory. Sharjah and Stromoy Racing are tied on 53 points, WAM reported before the race. The races on 4 and 5 October are the penultimate round before the season finale in Sharjah.
The margin is slim. Abu Dhabi will be looking to protect its lead.
Shanghai's Baoshan District course is a 1,959-meter layout marked by six buoys.
Three drivers carry the challenge
Andersson will race Abu Dhabi 5, Stark Abu Dhabi 6 and Rashed Al Qemzi Abu Dhabi 35. The line-up pairs international experience with a UAE driver. Abu Dhabi Ports Group is the team's official logistics partner.
Andersson sits fourth in the drivers' standings on 31 points, nine behind leader Sean Torrente on 40. Stark is fifth with 30 points. Al Qemzi has 11.
Thani Al Qemzi leads the team. Guido Cappellini brings technical expertise, and Majid Al Mansoori oversees technical and development work.
The F1H2O calendar was revised after the Jeddah Grand Prix was cancelled because of force majeure linked to ongoing geopolitical circumstances. The championship schedule then placed Shanghai ahead of the season finale in Sharjah.
Every result in Shanghai counts.
A demanding course before the Sharjah finale
The event is set in Shanghai's Baoshan area. Changing water conditions will test the drivers' handling. Registration and technical scrutineering are scheduled for Saturday 3 October 2026.
Free practice, qualifying and sprint races follow on Sunday 4 October. The main Shanghai Grand Prix is set for Monday 5 October, after the morning warm-up, WAM reports.
Andersson told the championship's official website that winning remains his goal. In its pre-race message, Team Abu Dhabi pointed to the teamwork involved in preparing the boat. The team also said Andersson was looking forward to racing in Shanghai again.
The UAE marine calendar also features traditional sailing. Registration has opened for the separate Shindagha dhow race, an event focused on youth and junior sailors.
Abu Dhabi have a one-point lead to defend, not a cushion. Shanghai is the last chance to widen or narrow that gap before the championship ends in Sharjah. Consistency across all three boats matters as much as another standout result.
