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Nissan vs. Porsche: Can Oliver Rowland turn promise into a title challenge in Formula E?

Carl Harrison by Carl Harrison
January 20, 2025
in Motorsports
Reading Time: 4 mins read
0
Nissan vs. Porsche: Can Oliver Rowland turn promise into a title challenge in Formula E?

Oliver Rowland and Nissan have started the 2025 Formula E season with a roar, proving they’re no longer just participants but genuine contenders. After a thrilling win in Mexico, Rowland sits just 12 points behind championship leader António Félix da Costa of Porsche. Yet, the road to the title remains fraught with challenges, as Porsche’s pace and consistency still cast a long shadow over the grid.

A season of redemption for Rowland

Six months ago, Rowland was watching the Portland round from his sofa, sidelined by illness. Missing the penultimate event of 2024 dashed his already slim title hopes, but he returned with a vengeance, winning the London season finale and finishing fourth overall despite competing in two fewer races.

Now, Rowland and Nissan seem better equipped for a full-blown title fight. The season opener in São Paulo revealed both promise and pitfalls—Rowland’s pace was undeniable, but a software glitch led to penalties for all four Nissan cars, costing him a likely win. Team principal Tommaso Volpe didn’t mince words: “It was such a stupid error in the system. We fixed it immediately after the race, which made it even more frustrating.”


Mexico victory: A statement win

Mexico’s race showcased Rowland’s resilience and Nissan’s potential to disrupt Porsche’s dominance. Despite Porsche’s superior energy efficiency and race management, a safety car reshuffled the deck, allowing Rowland to capitalize with a well-timed attack mode and flawless execution.

While Porsche boss Florian Modlinger admitted disappointment at missing a fifth Mexico win, he took solace in the team’s double podium, which extended their lead in the teams’ standings. “If no neutralization comes, there’s no chance for another car to catch us,” Modlinger confidently remarked.


Porsche’s advantage: Depth, pace, and two title contenders

Porsche’s package remains the grid’s benchmark, as evidenced by their 1-2 finish in Mexico before the safety car intervention. With da Costa and reigning champion Pascal Wehrlein, Porsche has the luxury—and potential headache—of managing two top-tier title contenders.

Da Costa, now firmly acclimated to Porsche, leads the championship with a 16-point gap over Wehrlein. While team orders haven’t yet been implemented, the dynamic between the two drivers could create friction, especially as da Costa looks to assert himself after playing second fiddle in 2023-24.


Nissan’s opportunity—and obstacles

While Nissan has proven it can topple Porsche on race day, the team still faces hurdles in maintaining race-long energy efficiency and consistency. Volpe acknowledges that a steep learning curve lies ahead, particularly with the introduction of pit boost stops later in the season.

“This season will have a lot of unknowns,” Volpe said. “Not necessarily teams that are supposed to be the best will always be the best. But no excuses—we need to anticipate every scenario.”

Nissan’s development window before the next round in Jeddah and the extended break before Homestead offers a crucial opportunity to close the gap. Volpe hinted at upgrades in the pipeline: “There’s a solid part of development still coming. If we do things right, we can fight with the best.”


Consistency: The key to title contention

If Nissan hopes to sustain a title challenge, consistency will be paramount. Porsche’s ability to dominate across varying track conditions and its depth in both car performance and driver quality make them the favorites. Still, Rowland’s hunger and Nissan’s growing competitiveness position them as an undeniable threat.

“Our ambition this season is to fight for at least one of the three championships until the last race,” Volpe asserted.


The season ahead: Thorn in Porsche’s side?

As the 2025 Formula E season unfolds, Nissan and Rowland have shown they’re no longer underdogs. The question now is whether they can consistently challenge Porsche’s dominance and capitalize on the unpredictability of a season packed with curveballs.

With Rowland’s determined driving and Nissan’s relentless development, they’ve already proven they can spoil the Porsche party. But to truly dethrone the German powerhouse, Nissan must turn flashes of brilliance into sustained excellence.

The battle continues in Jeddah, where the story of Nissan’s resurgence and Porsche’s defense will take another thrilling chapter.

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