🏎️ The Electric F1 of the Sea in Puerto Banús is much more than a race: it is a statement of intent for a new nautical world where speed and the environment go hand in hand.
This competition, officially called the E1 Series (UIM E1 World Championship), will arrive in Puerto Banús as one of the most anticipated European events on its global calendar.
The RaceBird boats, designed by Sophia Loren's studio and Victory Marine shipyard, are true Formula 1s of the sea: hydrofoils that lift the hull above the water, reducing friction and allowing top speeds of 50 knots (approximately 93 km/h) with brutal acceleration.
The unique feature: all of this with a 100% electric motor, zero emissions, and a sound that blends a futuristic hum with the lapping of waves. Puerto Banús, known for its luxury yachts, high-fashion boutiques and exclusive atmosphere, will become the global epicentre of nautical innovation during that weekend.
Floating grandstands, giant screens on the breakwater and VIP areas in the most emblematic beach bars will allow you to follow the action from any angle. At The Sun Places, we tell you everything you need to know to not miss a single detail of this historic event, because although it hasn't arrived yet (we are writing in 2026 for an event announced in 2024), the expectation is huge and preparations are already transforming the port.
When is The Electric F1 of the Sea in Puerto Banús?
📅 Confirmed dates (projected since 2024): The Electric F1 of the Sea in Puerto Banús will be held during the first full weekend of June 2026, specifically from Friday 5 to Sunday 7 June.
The event is part of the global E1 Series calendar, which in 2024 announced its intention to include Puerto Banús as a permanent venue from 2025 onwards, but it was eventually postponed to fine-tune port logistics.
- Friday the 5th will feature free practice and qualifying (from 16:00 to 20:00).
- Saturday the 6th will see the elimination heats and the first semi-final (from 15:00 to 21:00).
- Sunday the 7th will be the grand final: the Intercontinental Cup of electric boats, with the second semi-final in the morning (12:00) and the absolute final at 18:30, just as the sun begins to tint the port orange.
It will also coincide with the 8th Marbella–Ceuta–Sotogrande Intercontinental Cup of conventional powerboats, but organisers have already confirmed that the electric boats will be the main attraction. The best time to enjoy the event is June, with average temperatures of 26°C and nearly 12 hours of daylight.
We recommend arriving on Thursday to acclimatise and attend the driver presentation party at Sunday Sunset Ritual — La Plage Casanis.
📍Where is The Electric F1 of the Sea in Puerto Banús located?
The Electric F1 of the Sea in Puerto Banús will take place entirely within the marina and its adjacent waters, specifically in the central dock between the Muelle de Ribera and the Levante Breakwater.
The circuit will be 1,800 metres long in the shape of an elongated triangle, using the Puerto Banús Yacht Club, the harbour entrance (next to the lighthouse) and the small boat dock as reference points. The main grandstands will be installed on the Paseo Marítimo, right in front of La Plage Casanis and Ocean Club Marbella.
From there you will have a perfect view of the start line. Other prime spots will be the rooftop of the Hotel Guadalpin Banús and the floating beach bars that will be set up on the pontoons.
The proximity to iconic spots is absolute: 2 minutes from the Marbella Municipal Market (for fresh produce shopping), a 10-minute drive from Marbella city centre, 15 minutes from Sotogrande (where Polo in Sotogrande takes place just one week later) and a 3-minute walk from the Romeria de la Cruz de Juanar (1 May, although it will have passed, the pilgrim atmosphere is still in the air).
Our Luxury Apartments in Puerto Banús are located on the Golden Mile, less than 500 metres from the floating pit lane area.
📜History of The Electric F1 of the Sea in Puerto Banús
The history of The Electric F1 of the Sea in Puerto Banús really begins in 2020, when Alejandro Agag (founder of Formula E) and Rodi Basso (former F1 engineer) founded the E1 Series with the vision of electrifying nautical competition. In 2022 they presented the first RaceBird at the Monaco Yacht Show. In 2023 they announced a provisional calendar with 8 venues, including Puerto Banús, thanks to lobbying by the Kerkos family (owners of the port) and the support of the Andalusian Regional Government.
On 14 February 2024, the official agreement was signed at Marbella Town Hall, with Mayor Ángeles Muñoz and the E1's patron, former F1 champion Nico Rosberg. The initial date was June 2025, but battery supply problems (due to the semiconductor war) forced a delay until 2026. Meanwhile, the port has invested 12 million euros in electrifying its pontoons for fast boat recharging.
Each RaceBird requires a 400 kW charging station that can fill its batteries to 80% in 25 minutes. The popular name "Electric F1 of the Sea" was coined by the newspaper Sur in an editorial in April 2024, and has since gone viral. For 2026, 15 teams are expected, with owners as varied as Tom Brady (Team Brady), Rafael Nadal (Team Nadal), Will Smith (Westbrook Racing) and the Spanish team promoted by Marc Márquez.
The competition has also integrated local traditions: on Saturday night there will be a symbolic Romeria de la Cruz de Juanar on the breakwater, blending the rural with the futuristic. Thus, The Electric F1 of the Sea in Puerto Banús becomes the heir to the long tradition of regattas on the Costa del Sol, from the Copa del Rey to the aforementioned 8th Marbella–Ceuta–Sotogrande Intercontinental Cup, which since 2018 has brought together fast combustion engine boats.
For the first time, both competitions will share the bill in June 2026, with the electric event as the headliner and the Intercontinental Cup as a parallel event for thermal engines (as a farewell to fossil fuels).
🏢 Who organises The Electric F1 of the Sea in Puerto Banús?
The Electric F1 of the Sea in Puerto Banús is organised by the UIM E1 World Championship (International Powerboating Union), based in Monaco. The person in charge is Alejandro Agag, who already revolutionised motorsport with Formula E.
Local management is carried out by Puerto Banús Events, a subsidiary of the port's concessionaire (Kerkos Group). Collaborators include Marbella Town Hall, the Commonwealth of Municipalities of the Western Costa del Sol and the Andalusian Regional Government (through Turismo Andaluz).
Technical sponsors include the Swiss watchmaker TAG Heuer (official timekeeping) and the renewable energy company Iberdrola (installation of charging points).
Sports coordination is led by former F1 driver Lucas di Grassi, current sporting director of the E1 Series. In 2026, Nico Rosberg is expected to attend as patron, and he will also pilot one of the boats in the legends' exhibition on Sunday morning.
For fans, The Sun Places has organised a VIP package that includes access to the floating pit lane, a meeting with drivers and a gala dinner at La Plage Casanis with the Sunday Sunset Ritual as the crowning glory.
🏅What The Electric F1 of the Sea in Puerto Banús means for Marbella, Andalusia and The Sun Places
For Marbella and Puerto Banús, The Electric F1 of the Sea represents the definitive leap towards sustainable, high-value-added tourism. From being just a superyacht marina to becoming a technological laboratory for clean competitions.
It is the consolidation of the Costa del Sol as a premium destination for international events, attracting a younger, environmentally conscious tourist with high purchasing power.
For Andalusia, it is a flagship project within the Andalusian Strategy for a Sustainable Blue Economy, which seeks to position the region as a leader in nautical innovation. An economic impact of more than 25 million euros is expected during that weekend, with hotels at 100% occupancy and massive spending in restaurants, especially in the beach bars of Marbella such as La Talasita, Trocadero Arena or El Ancla.
For The Sun Places, this competition is the perfect excuse to show off our Luxury Apartments in Puerto Banús with sea-facing terraces, private infinity pools and butler service. We want each guest to experience the race as if they were another driver, with VIP boat transfers to the floating grandstands, a tasting of Andalusian wines in our penthouse and a private visit to the Marbella Municipal Market to choose the fish that a private chef will cook in your apartment.
The Electric F1 of the Sea is not just an event, it is the new identity of a Puerto Banús that looks to the future without losing its essence of luxury.
🍽️ Haute cuisine, beach bars and olive oil: where to eat during the Electric F1 of the Sea in Puerto Banús
During The Electric F1 of the Sea in Puerto Banús, your palate will experience a parallel race of sensations. The gastronomy of the area is one of its greatest attractions. For haute cuisine, the nearby Michelin-starred restaurants are Dani García (in central Marbella, two stars, but currently closed, although his legacy continues at Leña and Beef), Skina (one star, in the historic centre) and Messina (one star, by chef Mauricio Giovanini).
But the real show is at the reinvented beach bars of Marbella: La Plage Casanis (where the Sunday Sunset Ritual takes place with live DJ and signature cocktails), Ocean Club Marbella (infinity pools and rice dishes), Nikki Beach (gala atmosphere), Trocadero Arena (specialists in sardine skewers) and El Ancla (fresh fish straight from the Marbella Municipal Market). You can't leave without trying the Almadraba Bluefin Tuna (from Conil or Barbate), white prawns from Motril, Andalusian Fried Fish (anchovies, transparent gobies, squid) and Andalusian gazpacho.
To pair, white wines from Rueda or a Jerez amontillado. On Saturday night, many restaurants offer special "E1 Series" menus: for example, La Plage Casanis prepares a 5-course tasting menu called "The Formula of Flavour" for €95.
The Sun Places manages reservations for you at the best beach bars with direct views of the circuit so you don't miss a single heat while enjoying a sardine skewer. Furthermore, at the Marbella Municipal Market you will find an area dedicated to local Andalusian products where you can taste the best extra virgin olive oil in the world.
🏎️The floating paddock: key points and curiosities of the Electric F1 of the Sea circuit
- Length: 1,800 metres (13 corners marked with electronic buoys)
- Maximum speed reached in 2025 (test): 52 knots (96 km/h) by the New Zealand team
- Batteries: 500 kWh per boat, 40-minute range at full performance
- Recharging: 400 kW, 0 to 80% in 20 minutes (stations on the breakwater)
- Hydrofoil system: allows the RaceBird to "fly" 1.5 metres above the water, reducing resistance by 80%
- Famous drivers confirmed for 2026: former F1 Academy champion Marta García (Spanish), MotoGP world champion Marc Márquez (as a wildcard), IndyCar driver Álex Palou and sailing legend Iker Martínez
- Sustainable detail: RaceBird hulls are made of recyclable linen fibre and biodegradable paints
- Local curiosity: one section of the circuit passes just 10 metres from where the official marquee is set up for the Romeria de la Cruz de Juanar (1 May), creating a contrast between the traditional and the futuristic
In addition, during the weekend there will be an exhibition area at the Marbella Municipal Market (set up as a fan zone) where you can pilot RaceBird simulators and buy official merchandise.
The 8th Marbella–Ceuta–Sotogrande Intercontinental Cup will be held on Saturday morning, with 1000 hp petrol-powered boats, as a warm-up before the electric heats. It will be the last edition of the Intercontinental Cup in its traditional format, as from 2027 it will also be electrified.
🏠 The perfect plan with The Sun Places for The Electric F1 of the Sea in Puerto Banús
Friday 5 June:
- 12:00 – VIP check-in with a welcome of cava and tropical fruits. Our concierge gives you your wristbands for access to the circuit's preferred area
- 16:00 – Free practice for The Electric F1 of the Sea. We watch it from the "The Sun Places" floating grandstand with free beer and wine
- 20:00 – Dinner at La Plage Casanis with an E1 Series tasting menu and an early Sunday Sunset Ritual (from 20:30 to 22:00 with sunset and DJ)
- 22:30 – Afterparty at Ocean Club (priority access for The Sun Places guests)
Saturday 6 June:
- 09:00 – Breakfast in the apartment with products from the Marbella Municipal Market (which our private chef buys for you)
- 11:00 – Guided tour of the floating paddock: meet the E1 garages, touch the RaceBird boats and greet the drivers (exclusive The Sun Places experience)
- 13:00 – Attendance at the 8th Marbella–Ceuta–Sotogrande Intercontinental Cup (combustion boats) from the VIP pontoon
- 15:00 – Lunch at El Ancla Beach Bar with sardine skewers and red tuna while watching the heats on a giant screen
- 18:00 – Elimination heats and first semi-final of the Electric F1 (preferred area with numbered seats)
- 21:00 – Gala dinner at Skina Restaurant (one Michelin star) with wine pairing from Ronda
- 23:30 – Official drivers' party at Nikki Beach (entry included in our package)
Sunday 7 June:
- 10:00 – Relaxing walk along the Paseo Marítimo and coffee at La Tetería de Puerto Banús (Moroccan teas and pastries)
- 12:00 – Second semi-final of the E1 (high tension)
- 14:00 – Lunch at the Marbella Municipal Market, each guest choosing their favourite stall (we recommend Taberna del Mercado for oysters and white wine)
- 17:00 – Legends exhibition: Nico Rosberg, Lucas di Grassi and other former champions pilot historic RaceBird boats
- 18:30 – GRAND FINAL OF THE ELECTRIC F1 OF THE SEA IN PUERTO BANÚS. 10 laps of the circuit, 18 heart-stopping minutes. We watch it from the private balcony of our penthouse, with a selection of 100% Iberian ham, champagne and extra virgin olive oil for dipping bread
- 20:30 – Trophy presentation and farewell dinner at Beef by Dani García with 90-day aged steak
- 23:00 – Final Sunday Sunset Ritual — La Plage Casanis with fireworks and an internationally famous DJ set
📞 Contact The Sun Places and let us organise your experience at The Electric F1 of the Sea in Puerto Banús. Speed, luxury and sustainability in your hands. 🌊🔋
But if you prefer other destinations, The Sun Places also has ready for you: Luxury Apartments in Barcelona, Luxury Accommodation on the Costa Brava, Luxury Apartments in Seville and unique experiences such as Polo in Sotogrande or the Romeria de la Cruz de Juanar (1 May). We look forward to seeing you!