Wednesday, March 25: The newly renamed Atlantic Team will be competing in the 2026 F1H2O World Championship with the retained duo of Duarte Benavente and Ben Jelf.

Benavente’s legendary longevity in the sport is therefore set to extend even further, as the Portuguese driver prepares for his 27th season at the highest echelon of racing. He has been a staple of the F1H2O circuit since his debut at the 1999 Grand Prix of Portugal in Portimão, but in the last few seasons he has struggled to recapture the stronger form of his early racing years.

Benavente finished the 2025 Drivers World Championship in 17th place, having been hampered by a series of DNFs at crucial Grand Prix. But with over a quarter of a century’s experience underneath his wing, he will be hoping to recapture stronger form and rise the rankings in 2026.

Alongside him will be the young Brit Ben Jelf, who will be returning for his fifth season with Atlantic Team. Jelf had high hopes going into the 2025 season, and looked set to meet them following a flying start in the inaugural race of 2025, securing his first ever podium place with a third place finish at the Grand Prix of Indonesia. Momentum subsequently waned, with back-to-back DNFs at the two Grand Prix in China dampening hopes of a finish towards the top of the table.

Jelf finished 13th in the 2025 Drivers World Championship, whilst Atlantic Team came penultimate in the Teams World Championship. But as flashes of brilliance and the strong finish in Indonesia showed, the potential to compete at the top is there, and 2026 may well be the season where further personal records are broken.