The morning after Alex Carella won the 2017 UIM F1H2o World Championship for Team Abu Dhabi it was officially announced that he would be leaving the team forthwith and would be replaced by Shaun Torrente for the 2018 season.

The story was broken during the GP of Sharjah last Friday by F1H2o Commentator Jonathan Jones who sensationally announced that it would be Torrente’s last race for the Victory Team.

Torrente pulled out of the race with engine failure and told me after:

Where did you hear that story? It’s a good rumour!

By midnight, Torrente had all but confirmed the move by changing his Facebook profile picture to that of an Abu Dhabi F1 DAC.

Early on Saturday morning, Tonsberg Batrace organiser Frode Sundsdal published pictures of Torrente on his Facebook page with Abu Dhabi Team Manager Guido Cappellini wearing the team’s overalls.

It is understood that the shots were taken recently at a secret test session the American driver undertook.

Rashed Al-Qemzi has been confirmed as Torrente’s team mate for 2018 but what next for Carella?

The rumour mill suggests a straight swap of drivers and the Italian could be racing for the Victory Team with the first round of the 2018 F1H2o calendar possibly being hosted in his new team’s home waters, Dubai.

A mouth-watering prospect.