Heading into the second race of the Jeddah E-Prix, Oliver Rowland wasn’t expecting to dominate the field—in fact, he would have been satisfied with a top-five finish. But when the lights went out, the Nissan driver put on a tactical masterclass, managing his energy to perfection and storming to a commanding victory with a 5.844-second gap over second-place finisher Taylor Barnard.
Rowland’s win wasn’t just impressive—it was textbook Formula E strategy, proving once again that in the GEN3 era, precision and patience win races.
Rowland’s Game Plan: Stay Efficient, Strike Late
Saturday’s race presented a very different challenge compared to Friday’s event, primarily because there was no Pit Boost, meaning energy conservation was more crucial than ever. While other drivers found themselves jockeying for position and dealing with contact, punctures, and chaos, Rowland played it smart—staying patient, saving energy early, and striking when the time was right.
“Honestly, going into the race, I was pretty content even to be in the top five, not knowing how the race would go,” Rowland admitted. “But I was in a fortunate position in the beginning where I could kind of be efficient, not be under too much pressure, and managed to build up a bit of energy.”
The key to his success was staying out of trouble while others battled behind him.
“The energy today was much lower than yesterday,” he explained. “We knew it was going to be that stacked-up peloton type of race, where you can have contact, you can be unfortunate, you can pick up punctures, you can get damage. You just have to stay out of trouble.”
By the time the final laps arrived, Rowland had a significant energy advantage, allowing him to pull away from the pack while others scrambled to reach the finish.
Past Mistakes Haunt Rowland—but This Time, He Gets It Right
Rowland’s flawless execution in Jeddah was even more satisfying given his past struggles with energy management. The bitter memories of Misano and Sao Paulo, where he lost race-winning opportunities due to overconsumption, were fresh in his mind.
“Flashbacks of Misano, then flashbacks of Sao Paulo, and then a little bit yesterday,” Rowland said. “So there’s always a moment where I’m doubting what’s going on.”
This time, however, he nailed it.
A big part of that success? Improved radio communication with his engineer, which had been a problem earlier in the season.
“Yesterday, my engineer’s radio was really poor, so I could only hear like 40 percent of what he was saying during the race,” Rowland revealed. “But today it was much clearer, and he was much more direct and clear with his feedback.”
That clarity allowed Rowland to stay disciplined, keep his consumption in check, and execute his race strategy flawlessly.
“The communication was really good with my engineer today, he was able to keep me informed of who was doing what, and thankfully it was right. I never let myself overconsume, and I was pretty disciplined with that.”
Rowland Takes Control of the Formula E Championship
With his dominant Jeddah victory, Rowland continues to cement himself as the man to beat in Formula E this season. He has now secured two wins, a second-place finish, and a 14th-place result, putting him at the top of the championship standings.
As the season progresses, Rowland’s ability to manage energy under pressure could be the difference-maker in the title fight. If he can keep up this level of performance and discipline, he’ll be a serious contender for his first Formula E championship.
