The Nissan Formula E Team celebrated a successful weekend at the inaugural Jeddah E-Prix, securing its second podium finish of the 2024/25 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. Oliver Rowland delivered an impressive performance, finishing second in a race that also marked the debut of the Pit Boost feature on friday and first on saturday race .
Strong Qualifying and Race Performance
Rowland demonstrated his skill during qualifying, making it to the semi-finals of the Duels and securing a spot in third on the grid. His teammate, Norman Nato, faced a more challenging start, qualifying in P12 after narrowly missing out on the top four in Group B.
Under the Saudi Arabian night sky, Rowland wasted no time in moving up the field, quickly claiming second place on the opening lap. On lap 11, Rowland took the lead, and a well-executed Pit Boost strategy by the Nissan team helped maintain his position at the front. However, Rowland was forced to manage his energy reserves in the final laps, ultimately crossing the line in second place—just shy of the victory.
Challenges for Nato and Team Efforts
Nato showed strong pace throughout the race, climbing into the points. Unfortunately, a technical infringement related to tire pressures led to a drive-through penalty, which hindered his progress and saw him finish in 20th position.
Despite the setback for Nato, Rowland’s strong finish propelled him to the top of the Drivers’ Championship, while Nissan Formula E Team moved into fourth place in the Teams’ Standings. With a podium finish from their partner team, NEOM McLaren Formula E Team, Nissan now leads the Manufacturers’ Championship.
Tommaso Volpe, Managing Director and Team Principal, Nissan Formula E Team:
“It’s fantastic to score a podium at the home race of our innovation partner Electromin and to show that we can compete at the front, leading both the Drivers’ and Manufacturers’ Championships. Oli drove superbly today and was so close to the win, but energy management in the final laps cost him that last push. On Norman’s side, we made a mistake with the tire pressures, which resulted in a drive-through penalty that affected his race. The debut of Pit Boost provided an additional challenge, but we managed it well, and I’m proud of the team’s preparation and execution. While we still have work to do, particularly in addressing our weak points, it’s been a positive weekend. Having two Nissan-powered cars on the podium with NEOM McLaren Formula E Team is a great achievement, and we’re focused on securing more points tomorrow.”
Oliver Rowland, Driver, Nissan Formula E Team:
“I’m really happy with the podium and the valuable points we’ve earned, although it’s always disappointing to miss out on the win in the final corners. We had to conserve energy in those last laps to ensure I crossed the line in second. The race was intense, with almost flat-out driving throughout, and I enjoyed the challenge. It’s great to be leading the Drivers’ Championship, but consistency will be key moving forward, and that’s what I’m focusing on. We’ve had a strong weekend so far, and we’ll aim to carry this momentum into tomorrow’s race for another positive result.”
