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Is Formula E's Oliver Rowland-Nissan duo the real deal in 2025?

Writer's picture: Vyas PonnuriVyas Ponnuri

Written by Vyas Ponnuri


Formula E is just two weekends into a new campaign, but one driver has stolen the spotlight across both outings so far in season 11. While Antonio Felix da Costa and Porsche lead the respective standings, Oliver Rowland and Nissan have remained largely in the spotlight across the São Paulo and Mexico E-Prix weekends.


Rowland has emerged as a major face in Formula E's latest race weekends
Rowland has emerged as a major face in Formula E's latest race weekends | Credit - Alastair Staley

In a series marred by the highest degree of unpredictability, season 11 has seen even more dizzying variations and overtaking on race weekends. This could be put largely down to the more pronounced effect of attack mode on race day, enhanced by the All Wheel Drive (AWD) capabilities of the Gen3 Evo Formula E cars.


Although it is difficult, and almost impossible to paint an accurate title battle for any championship after just two rounds, let alone one as chaotic and unpredictable as Formula E, Rowland and Nissan have truly stood out from the rest, even if the points table doesn't reflect their mighty performances.


Having qualified on the front row at São Paulo, the Briton leapt up into the lead right off the five red lights. Rowland led and controlled significant portions of the race, even grabbing it back from the other Porsche of da Costa after the first of two red flag interruptions at São Paulo.


However, his dreams of a season opener win were quickly dashed, slapped with a drive through penalty for overpower at the first of those restarts. It was a recurring issue on the day, affecting all four Nissan-powered machines, including podium finisher Taylor Barnard's McLaren.


Yet, there were definitive instances of Rowland having thrown away a big result, perhaps even a race win in Brazil, as he eventually finished outside the points in the season opener. The Nissan racer had controlled most of the race, managed his energy and even saved his second attack mode hit for use later than his rivals.


Rowland led most of the São Paulo E-Prix, losing victory due to overpower among Nissan cars
Rowland led most of the São Paulo E-Prix, losing victory due to overpower among Nissan cars | Credit - Simon Galloway

"It was the control systems at the start." were the words of Nissan team principal Tommaso Volpe. "We will look into this urgently next week to ensure that there are no more penalties," the Japanese manufacturer's team principal was quoted saying to The Race, in order to prevent more such opportunities for the team to go to waste.


In a series as tight-knit and close as Formula E, every weekend matters even more. Consistency becomes a talking element in the series, and one big opportunity thrown away can hurt like a dagger to a driver's heart. Rowland himself knows it all too well, losing a victory at Misano in season 10 that would go on to hurt his championship aspirations.


“It's never nice to kind of lose something so close to the end,” Rowland had expressed in an exclusive interview with DIVEBOMB earlier this year. On that day, he was in the perfect position to take the top honours, a similar feeling to his São Paulo weekend in season 11.


Rowland capitalised on opportunities to take two wins and seven podiums in season 10
Rowland capitalised on opportunities to take two wins and seven podiums in season 10 | Credit - Dom Romney

Rowland is a driver who capitalises on opportunities presented to him. While inferior packages at his disposal meant he put in one move too many and suffered as a result, the improved Nissan package since season 10 has helped the Briton become more clinical at starts and his race day overtakes.


This was visible across several weekends in 2024, when Rowland came from well down the grid to finish on the podium in Formula E's infamous peloton races, the epitome of capitalising on opportunities. As many as three of his podiums came from 15th on the grid, while he won the Misano E-Prix from sixth on the grid.


He also led the second Misano race for most part, having started down in 10th. It was a similar tale for the Nissan driver at the season ending London E-Prix, starting ninth on the grid and moving up the order to take victory in a chaotic finale.


As such, there was no surprise when he rocked up to Mexico City E-Prix and took victory with a flurry of late passes. Once again, Nissan saved up their attack mode for late in the race, and they would benefit from two late safety car periods.


With just about a minute of attack mode remaining, the ever-opportunistic Rowland capitalised on the first of these restarts, surging past Andretti's Jake Dennis into turn 1, before finding his way past Pascal Wehrlein and Antonio Felix da Costa later in the lap to catapult himself into the lead before the safety car was called out again.


As they had anticipated, Rowland ran out of attack mode, just as the safety car was called out once again for the incident between Mitch Evans and Nico Muller. It highlighted just how perfectly Rowland had capitalised on an opportunity presented to him with open arms.


In a moment of perfection, Rowland stopped the energy clock at 0.1% as he took the chequered flag. The Nissan racer had nailed his targets to perfection, doing just enough to keep a chasing da Costa behind for his first win of the year, redeeming himself after the overpower in the season opener.


Such clinical showings are what makes Formula E champions. You look back at Pascal Wehrlein's championship-winning season 10, or Dennis's season nine title win, or even Stoffel Vandoorne and Nyck de Vries title runs in season eight and seven, and you will discover similarities to the level Rowland is driving in at the moment.


The aforementioned quartet have been clinical in race wins, and have maintained consistency of high order across the season. de Vries took a title in one of Formula E's most competitive years, with as many as 11 different winners in 15 races. Vandoorne, on the other hand, stood on the top step only once, but had only one non-score on his way to the title the following season.


Dennis and Wehrlein benefitted from their relentless consistency and ability to score big at the right points of the season, when their championship rivals often encountered incidents that crippled their chances at the title.


Pascal Wehrlein's title-winning 2024 campaign was built on regular victories and consistency
Pascal Wehrlein's title-winning 2024 campaign was built on regular victories and consistency | Credit - Simon Galloway

And there have been shades of similar performances in the past season from Rowland. Ever since Nissan have found a breakthrough with their package in season 10, the 32-year-old has discovered a rich vein of form, spearheading the team's charge to become a championship contender.


His seven podiums in 2024 were only second to fellow contender Nick Cassidy, and if not for sitting out the Portland double header due to illness, we could have potentially seen Rowland in the hot seat of the championship battle.


While Rowland and Nissan will be looking to iron out their weaknesses in season 11, there's no doubt the Barnsley native has given an inkling of his capabilities with a victory in Mexico City, and is very well the name you need to keep an eye out for, as Formula E heads to Jeddah this weekend.


Formula E ventures into the port city of Jeddah for its first double-header of 2025. With action set to unfold on Friday and Saturday this time, instead of the regular Saturday-Sunday schedule, do stay tuned for a special weekend in the offing!



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