REDEMPTION FOR ROWLAND AS BRILLIANT BRIT SPOILS PORSCHE’S PARTY IN MEXICO
Nissan Formula E Team star thrills fans with a scintillating single-lap charge from fourth to first at the iconic Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.
Having been unlucky in Brazil last month, for the 2024/25 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship curtain-raiser, fate looked to be conspiring against Oliver Rowland once more in the Mexico City E-Prix (11 January), but the Brit was determined not to be denied twice and unleashed an inspired performance to battle to a brilliant fourth career triumph.
Going into the race, Rowland had never finished higher than seventh in five previous starts in Mexico City, but from fourth on the grid, the Nissan Formula E Team star was a contender from the outset in the second round of Season 11, with a characteristically feisty move carrying him past DS Penske’s Jean-Éric Vergne for third heading onto lap two.
On lap 14, third became second as Rowland split the race-leading TAG Heuer Porsche cars of pole-sitter Pascal Wehrlein and António Félix da Costa, and although he subsequently conceded ground as others took their Attack Modes while he kept his powder dry, the Nissan driver was playing the long game.
Rolling the dice, he activated his remaining six minutes of Attack Mode on lap 29, with the intention of closing down the gap to the top three of da Costa, Wehrlein and 2022/23 title-winner Jake Dennis (Andretti Formula E). Shortly after, however, CUPRA Kiro rookie David Beckmann went off following contact, bringing out the safety car – and eradicating much of Rowland’s advantage.
When the race went ‘green’ again, the Yorkshireman had barely a lap of additional power and all-wheel-drive left to exploit – and three former champions to pass if he wanted to get to the front of the field. It looked to be the tallest of orders, but by Turn 12, he had cleared them all in a display that brought the large and enthusiastic crowd to its feet.
He went on to stave off a counter-attack from da Costa in the closing stages to end Porsche’s long-standing domination in Mexico City and secure Nissan’s 20th victory in the all-electric single-seater series – vaulting himself firmly into the championship fight in the process.
It is da Costa who now leads the chase for the crown, as a second consecutive runner-up result catapulted the Portuguese ace 12 points clear of Rowland at the summit of the standings. Conversely, defending champion and Mexico City master Wehrlein was frustrated to ascend just the bottom step of the podium, after qualifying on pole in the North American megalopolis for the third time in four years and leading almost the entire opening half of the E-Prix.
The German actually had his hands full fending off fellow Porsche-powered driver Dennis towards the end – the pair engaging in a typically spirited scrap along the way. The Brit was less than a tenth-and-a-half behind when the chequered flag fell, with DS Penske duo Vergne and Maximilian Günther following home in fifth and sixth respectively on a good day for the French outfit.
Season 8 title-holder Stoffel Vandoorne converted 13th on the grid into a seventh-place finish in his second appearance for Maserati MSG Racing, as Mahindra Racing’s Nyck de Vries, Andretti’s Nico Müller – who played a tactical role in team-mate Dennis’ duel with Wehrlein – and Maserati MSG Racing Jake Hugues rounded out the top ten points-scorers.
There was no joy, however, for Brazil winner Mitch Evans or Jaguar TCS Racing. The New Zealander looked to potentially be in the pound seats, ensconced firmly inside the top ten with four minutes of Attack Mode still to deploy as the pack sat bunched up behind the aforementioned safety car, when none of his immediate rivals had very much left at all.
Next time around, however, Evans too was in the wall as the result of a collision, leaving him empty-handed, while stablemate and fellow 2023/24 championship protagonist Nick Cassidy could only climb as far as 14th, having started 22nd and last due to a penalty for a throttle pedal map infraction during qualifying.
The campaign continues with the first double-header of Season 11 – a new event in the Saudi Arabian city of Jeddah – on 14-15 February.
Oliver Rowland, Nissan Formula E Team, said:
“We’ve come here, we’ve done a solid job in qualifying and we were there in the race to pick up the pieces with a little bit of luck. I had fun out there and the podium was incredible. When I took ATTACK MODE, in half a lap I noticed already how much I gained on Jake [Dennis]. I think my strategy at that point would have been to get to these guys and then consolidate a podium, so when I got the chance to go for it I just went for it.”
António Félix da Costa, TAG Heuer Porsche, said:
“This is insane - the best fans of the whole season, thank you! I’m happy with two podiums in a row, but it looks like it was a weekend for P2. I’m a little bit disappointed but it’s a long season. I came here with the mentality to score some good points and we did just that, so I’m happy with this. It needs to be said that it’s the first time I’ve been on the podium with my teammate since I joined this team, so this is for everyone back home, they work long long hours, thank you guys for providing us with such a strong package. The championship lead at this moment means nothing: I know the mentality I need to have this year - it’s there, we’re doing a good job, and we’re going to try and keep this up.”
Pascal Wehrlein, TAG Heuer Porsche, said:
“First of all, it’s great that we have so many fans here, it’s one of my favourite races. I don’t think this race went to plan. We were looking strong on energy, leading almost half of the race initially, but somehow it went out of our hands. It is what it is, I’m sure we’ll learn something from it.”
