Nissan Formula E Team driver Oliver Rowland secured third place in Round 5 of the 2025/26 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship in Jeddah on February 15, 2026. The podium finish marked the team’s recovery from a difficult opening race in the double-header weekend.
In Friday’s opening race, Norman Nato reached the semi-final stage in qualifying, while Rowland missed the Duels. Nato started fourth and led for multiple laps before his Pit Boost stop. However, rivals using Attack Mode overtook him in the later stages, and he finished 13th. Rowland started 16th and finished 17th, unable to advance through the field.
Saturday Race Performance
Saturday’s second race saw improved results for the team. Rowland qualified fourth in his 100th Formula E start, while Nato narrowly missed the Duels in a competitive session. Starting from the second row, Rowland led during the early stages and maintained position at the front while managing energy efficiently.
Rowland activated his final six-minute Attack Mode and moved into the top three positions. He held third place to the finish line. Nato started 15th and was unable to advance through the field, finishing 17th.
Team Response to Challenges
“We’re pleased to get a podium this evening with Oli after a difficult day yesterday. We struggled in Round 4 on Friday, even if Norman did a great job in qualifying to make it to the semi-finals in the Duels, but both drivers lacked pace and found it tough in the race.”
Tommaso Volpe, Managing Director and Team Principal, Nissan Formula E Team
The team worked overnight to identify and resolve performance issues. Volpe stated the adjustments allowed Rowland to feel more comfortable in the car for Saturday’s qualifying and race. He added that Nato faced challenges recovering from his starting position on a track where overtaking from mid-pack is difficult.
Driver Statements
Rowland acknowledged Friday’s difficulties, including contact with the wall during FP2 and qualifying struggles. He said the team made adjustments to the car overnight that improved performance. Moreover, he explained his strategy of taking the lead early to avoid incidents common in peloton-style racing.
“I’m frustrated to leave Jeddah with no points, after we had a positive start to the double-header in qualifying yesterday. I felt good in the car and led comfortably for several laps, but a technical issue affected our pace and we dropped down the order in the second half of the event.”
Norman Nato, Driver, Nissan Formula E Team
Nato expressed disappointment with the weekend results. He noted a technical issue impacted Friday’s race performance, and Saturday’s tight qualifying margins prevented advancement to the Duels. Consequently, he found it difficult to move forward during the race due to closely-matched competitors.
Championship Context and Future Outlook
The podium represents Rowland’s third top-three finish in Season 12. Rowland won the Season 11 Drivers’ World Championship with seven podiums, four victories, and three pole positions. The championship now moves to Madrid for races on March 20-21 at Circuito del Jarama, marking the venue’s first Formula E event.
Nissan entered Formula E in Season 5 (2018/19) as the first Japanese manufacturer in the series. The company acquired the e.dams race team in April 2022 and became the first manufacturer to commit to the GEN4 era through 2030. Formula E racing supports Nissan’s goal to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 and electrify all new vehicle offerings in key markets by the early 2030s.
