Oliver Rowland has revealed the unique reason why he may waive the right to carry the coveted #1 on his car as defending Formula E champion next season.

The Nissan driver stormed to his first title in the all-electric championship, securing the title at the penultimate weekend in Berlin.

Rowland’s excellent and consistent performances saw him clinch the crown with 184 points, taking four wins across the 16-race schedule.

As reigning champion, the 33-year-old of course has the right to boast #1 on his car for next season, which kicks off in Sao Paulo on December 6.

But the Japanese marque has a special affiliation with the number 23, which currently adorns Rowland’s car.

In the Japanese language, the number two is pronounced ‘ni’ and the number two is pronounced ‘san,’ hence the delicate ties to it.

When asked by Motorsport Week if he would be taking #1, Rowland said it would be down to discussions with the Nissan hierarchy for their validation.

“I actually texted Tommaso [Volpe, Team Principal] asking for his opinion, because obviously the number 23 is really important for Nissan, and special,” he said.

“He thought didn’t usually take the #1, but in the last five years, a lot of people took it, so I corrected him on that! And said we’ve got a bit of time to think about it.”

Rowland floated the idea of handing the #23 to team-mate Norman Nato, but the Frenchman frequently bears #17 on his car, as a tribute to close friend, the late Jules Bianchi.

“Norman has a really strong tie to the number 17, which was obviously Jules’ number,” Rowland added.

“We need a #23, whether it comes from me or the other car, I can’t really tell you.

“My gut feeling is I’d like to run the #1 but it’s something we need to discuss internally and decide.

“Right now, I’m not sure, I’ll let you know as soon as it’s decided!”

READ MORE – Formula E champion pens multi-year deal with Nissan in unchanged Season 12 line-up

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Nissan Formula E Team has confirmed an unchanged driver line-up for next season, with World Champion Oliver Rowland being partnered by Norman Nato.

The Japanese marque were in little doubt of retaining Rowland, who stormed to his maiden title after a dominant campaign.

But the Yorkshireman has put to bed any doubt as to where his future lies, penning a multi-year deal, in what will be, in total, his sixth season with the team.

Speculation arose as to his partner for the upcoming season, which commences in Sao Paulo on December 6, with drivers including reservist Sergio Sette Camara rumoured.

But Nato has kept his seat, despite finishing 20th in the Drivers’ standings, his best results being two sixth-place finishes in Miami [also taking pole position] and Shanghai.

“I’m thrilled to sign with Nissan Formula E Team on a multi-year deal, in what will be my sixth season with the squad,” Rowland said in a statement.

“What we’ve managed to achieve following my return in 2023/24 has been remarkable.

“Since I came to Formula E, the team has felt like my home, and I have a high level of trust with them as well as plenty of support.

“The aim for Season 12 is to replicate and improve on what we did last campaign, but we know how hard we need to work in the off-season to achieve the best results possible.”

Nato, who won the 6 Hours of Sao Paulo for Cadillac Hertz Team Jota in the World Endurance Championship last month, was similarly excited to be remaining with the team.

“I’m delighted to continue with Nissan Formula E Team for another season as it was always the target to extend my stay here,” the Frenchman said.

“It’ll be my third campaign with the team and my second consecutive one, which gives me a lot of confidence moving forward.

“I still have plenty of areas to improve on, but I’m not starting from scratch this year so I can use factors I’ve learned in Season 11 to help me in the future.

“I’m sure Oli will perform at a very high level again and I’m positive that together we can fight for the Teams’ Championship.”

READ MORE – Exclusive: Dan Ticktum ‘very likely’ to remain at Kiro for Formula E Season 12

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New Formula E World Champion Oliver Rowland revealed to Motorsport Week that Max Verstappen sent him an encouraging text message in the build-up to his title success.

The Yorkshireman drove a typically calm race amid typical FE chaos to take his first Drivers’ Championship, after an untypical FE season of supreme dominance.

Rowland’s fourth place was enough to secure the right to Number 1 on his Nissan next year, ursping the crown from Porsche’s Pascal Wehrlein.

After the race, a delighted Rowland told Motorsport Week that he had received the message from the reigning Formula 1 World Champion after a difficult Race 1 on Saturday.

“He messaged me last night and told me to keep my chin up and score points,” he said, “which meant a lot, because I was pretty disappointed in myself, but it was a really nice touch of him to message me, and he’s a great guy.”

Rowland had, earlier in the season, been given the high praise of being like Verstappen by his former team-mate Sacha Fenestraz, a suggestion that Rowland laughed off.

“Yeah. I mean, I’m not going to say that I’m a Max Verstappen, because I don’t think that’s close to the mark,” adding: “I mean, even to be compared to him is obviously a huge compliment, let’s say, but I’m not sure I’m quite at his level.”

Rowland was somewhat overwhelmed when he crossed the line to confirm the championship triumph, being given a radio message from his daughter.

He was quick to praise his Nissan team for the car that gave him the car to put together a title challenge, and showed his immense gratitude.

“I don’t know what to say,” he said. “We put together a really, really strong season. We did everything right.

“Today was another showing of how we can be efficient, how we can win races, not win races, but sorry, score good points in races and manage the best we could with what we had. And yeah, huge thanks to the team and everybody involved.”

READ MORE – Berlin E-Prix: Oliver Rowland crowned Formula E World Champion as Nick Cassidy takes race win

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Nissan Formula E Team has announced its reserve driver Sergio Sette Camara will drive for the team at next month’s Berlin E-Prix, with regular driver Norman Nato prioritising his duties in the World Endurance Championship.

As first reported by Motorsport Week in December, Sette Camara will step into the breach left by Nato, who will participate in the 6 Hours of Sao Paulo with Cadillac Hertz Team Jota.

For the Brazilian, it will be a huge opportunity to prove his worth in the all-electric championship, having joined the Japanese marque prior to Season 11, having been ousted by ERT, now Cupra Kiro.

His chance to shine is even greater, considering the e-4ORCE 05 has, for the most part, been the class of the field so far, with Oliver Rowland taking a commanding lead in the championship at the wheel.

‘I feel ready to give it my all,’ says Sette Camara

In a statement, Sette Camara said: “I’m excited to race for the Nissan Formula E Team in Berlin. It’s a good opportunity for me to step into one of the leading cars in the championship, something I haven’t experienced before in this series, and I feel ready to give my all.

“Even in my role as reserve driver, it’s been a pleasure to be part of a team with such a strong, winning mentality. The environment at Nissan is one that pushes you to grow, and just being around it is motivating.

“Being back on the grid is special, but doing it with Nissan does make it more meaningful.

“In regards to the race itself, there are a number of firsts I’ll have to face in Berlin. The pit-boost and the all-wheel-drive system introduced for GEN3 EVO car are a couple of them, as well as the new softer tire spec, but I’ll do plenty of laps on the simulator and try to arrive as prepared as I possibly can.

“I’m also really keen to team up with Oli, he’s a driver I’ve always admired for his speed and he’s proven that so far this year with his incredible performances.

“It’s a great chance for me to learn from him, we get on well and I’m confident we will work together strongly in Berlin.”

READ MORE – ‘He’s like family’: Red Bull F2 star praises Formula E title-leader for career guidance

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Oliver Rowland has said his Nissan Formula E Team are “gelling in a good way,” after the Brit cemented his title credentials with a commanding victory in Race 2 of the Jeddah E-Prix.

Starting from second, Rowland played a team strategy perfectly, using his Attack Modes well to overcome the challenge of NEOM McLaren’s Taylor Barnard to claim his second win of the season.

Rowland told Motorsport Week that, whilst his team and himself are now being labelled as one of the title favourites, you can’t be complacent.

“I don’t think you can expect it in this game,” he said. “Look, I’m always very clear with what I want to achieve each weekend. I have set out goals in my mind, which I focus on.

“I’m getting more and more experience with my team. We know what the car needs, we know what I need. We’re gelling in a good way, so I’m really happy.”

‘He’s very much like me’ – Rowland proud of protege Barnard

The race result had to significant additional points of interest with the first all-British podium in FE history, with Jake Hughes claiming third, and Jake Dennis finishing fourth to make it a UK quartet, as well as Barnard being a product of Rowland’s karting team initiative.

Rowland said that he noticed the talent of the 20-year-old – who became FE’s youngest-ever pole-sitter this weekend – and isn’t surprised to see him sharing a podium with him now.

“I saw his talent when he was 11, 12. He needed help because he had no backing or funding and managed to find him a really good seat so he could show even more of his talent. 

“And to be here at such a young age, youngest pole sitter, youngest podium, I think I have a good eye for that sort of stuff!

“But he deserves it. He’s very much like me. He came from a background that couldn’t afford to even do basic karting, so it’s nice to see him up here.”

Rowland added that he is proud of what the British youth system for young budding racing drivers has been able to do in terms of producing such a breadth of talented drivers.

“Britain is generally spoilt for drivers. You look in Formula 1, you look in Formula E, WEC, wherever, we have such a good grassroots karting that we really teach the kids very well and they’re able to perform.”

Rowland joked: “If we can put Britain on the map, from a selfish perspective, I don’t really care about the others, apart from him [Barnard] a little bit!”

READ MORE – Jeddah E-Prix: Oliver Rowland leads home British Formula E quartet

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Oliver Rowland took his Nissan to the top of the timing sheets in FP1 ahead of tomorrow’s first race for Formula E at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit.

The Brit, who won last time out in Mexico City, set the benchmark of 1:15.849, with team-mate Norman Nato second a tenth-of-a-second behind.

Both drivers for the Japanese marque were the only ones to move into the 1:15.000s, with Mahindra’s Edoardo Mortara, third two tenths off with a 1:16.069.

NEOM McLaren’s Sam Bird was fourth, followed by Cupra Kiro’s Dan Ticktum in fifth, with reigning champion Pascal Wehrlein sixth.

Stoffel Vandoorne put his Maserati in seventh, with title-leader Antonio Felix da Costa eighth.

Max Gunther’s DS Penske was ninth, with Mitch Evans’ Jaguar rounding-up the top 10.

Only five tenths-of-a-second covered Rowland to Evans, with 1.6s covering the whole field, which was back-ended by the McLaren of Taylor Barnard.

Rowland will be looking to keep the momentum going from his late victory from the Porsche pair of Wehrlein and da Costa in Mexico, and has already set the tone under the lights in Jeddah, which will play host to its first-ever FE events, having moved to the F1 venue from the previous location in Riyadh.

The Corniche has introduced a new FE-friendly layout, two miles less than its F1 version, and has incorporated temporary chicanes, the final one leading out onto the start-finish straight, with a small bump on the exit that seemed to put many of the cars into a wiggle on the exit.

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Nissan Formula E team has confirmed Gabriele Mini will drive for the team in the rookie practice session at next week’s Jeddah E-Prix.

The Italian youngster, who will make his full-time Formula 2 debut with Prema this year whilst continuing as a member of the Alpine Academy, has already tasted FE with the Japanese marque, partaking in the previous rookie test in Berlin last May.

The move is continuation of the team’s relationship with the French Formula 1 team’s breeding ground, both of which are based at Viry-Chatillon.

In a statement released by Nissan, Mini said: “I’m looking forward to this opportunity after working with the team at the Berlin Rookie Test last year.

“It was my first time in an electric race car then and I learnt a lot which I’m confident can help me in Jeddah.

“The biggest challenge when I discovered Formula E was the complexity of the race simulation, and having to be quick but also efficient, with energy management, at the same time.

“I’ve worked in the simulator to prepare for the challenges in Jeddah, but there will be unknowns as this is a new circuit.

“My goal is to help the team for the remainder of the weekend by collecting as much data as possible.”

Nissan boss Volpe ‘delighted’ with Mini acquisition

Team Principal Tommaso Volpe said: “We’re delighted to be working with a great talent like Gabriele again after the Berlin Rookie Test in Season 10.

“He’s showed impressive performance with us since the beginning, and has also had a very strong season in 2024, finishing second in Formula 3 and securing a F2 podium on his debut.

“This Rookie Free Practice session is going to be very important as it will be the very first time that the cars will be on track at a brand-new location.

“We’ll be looking to collect as much meaningful data as possible during those 40 minutes, and that’s precisely why we wanted to get Gabriele back for this session, as we know he can help us with the initial car set up.

“We look forward to being back on track with him and to his contribution to the team ahead of the race.”

READ MORE – DS Penske snap up Daniil Kvyat for Jeddah rookie practice

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Nissan’s Oliver Rowland went fastest in the first free practice session of the FIA Formula E season in São Paulo.

The Englishman went fastest, utilising the new four-wheel drive feature, with a 1:10.162, which is over three-and-a-half seconds faster that last season’s pole position time on the Anhembi Sambadrome circuit.

It was a one-two for the Japanese squad, with the returning Norman Nato second.

Jake Dennis was third for Andretti, with Mahindra Racing’s Edoardo Mortara fourth.

Rookie Taylor Barnard was fifth for NEOM McLaren, followed by Jaguar TCS Racing’s Mitch Evans and Envision Racing’s Robin Frijns. Evans stopped out on late towards the end of the afternoon’s running with a suspected software problem.

Tag Heuer Porsche’s Antonio Felix da Costa and Pascal Wehrlein were eighth and ninth respectively, with the second Jaguar of Nick Cassidy rounding-up the top 10.

Nico Müller was forced to pit just before the halfway stage, having clouted the wall at turn six, damaging his left-rear suspension, putting him at the bottom of the pack. Many drivers were forced to take evasive action at turn one, all pushing hard early-on.

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F1 Academy title-leader Abbi Pulling has told Motorsport Week that she is hoping to “seal the deal” and win the title in order to progress to the GB3 category.

Just before the interview took place, it was announced that the eventual winner of the F1 Academy championship – which she leads by 95 points with just two weekends remaining – will earn a contract with Rodin Motorsport in the GB3 Championship for next year.

Whilst Pulling is aware that she can wrap-up the title next time out in Qatar, she reiterated that for now, it’s an ‘if’, not ‘when’.

“All season I think we’ve been very grounded,” she said. “It’s obviously been an incredible year so far, but I know there’s still hard work to do. It’s not over till it’s over, but at this point in the championship, I’ve got to really mess it up to not seal the deal, so I’m just going to focus on keeping on doing what I’m doing and hopefully in the end we can come out on top and get that prize. 

“It’s an incredible opportunity that the Academy are providing for the champions. It’s a new car, it’s been packaged, which is also very exciting. It’s the closest to an FIA car.

“I think it’s a really, really good championship to build and learn and craft and understand animals. I’ve not driven a car for a while, ever since I’ve done this, so I’m definitely going to be trying to get the championship and get the prize.”

Pulling ‘looking forward’ to Nissan test

Pulling was speaking from Jarama, where she is preparing to take part in Friday’s groundbreaking all-female FIA Formula E test for the Nissan squad.

She revealed that her links to Alpine were crucial, and the late venue change due to the floods in Madrid have given her the opportunity for an intense simulator session with the team.

“I’ve known for a while, I think since it was really announced that there was a Formula E test taking place.

“I’ve got a really good relationship with Alpine, so it made sense. I was thrilled with them and the opportunity to work with a manufacturer like Nissan is incredible, and obviously they’ve had very good results. They won the last race of the season last year, so I’m looking forward to working with them and putting their programme to work.”

“I actually did my simulator prep quite late, which at one point I felt quite unprepared, but then it ended up being the best thing as I did it this Monday, so we’d already known that there was a change in venue, we’d known that we’re now coming to Madrid, so that meant for my simulator session on Monday I was on the right track. 

“Actually, because the team hadn’t ran here before, I did a lot of runs for them to learn more, so my programme was more in-depth, so that they could understand more of what they needed to do around this track, which I really enjoyed. 

“I just hope that I can help them for their pre-season test.”

The test is the first of its kind and Formula E have enabled fans to watch the session by opening the circuit up to the public, and Pulling says she is “really excited to get going,” adding: “I mean, it’s a big wealth of experience of the girls that are here. 

“We obviously have someone like Simona de Silvestro, Alice Powell, who’s been a development driver for F1 for a while, so there’s people that are maybe a bit more experienced than me with this machinery, but I think it also lets you know whereabouts you are and kind of the trajectory of where you’re going.

“Hopefully with this test, we can show that you’re doing a good enough job and work more with the team in the future. 

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Jaguar TCS Racing and Nissan FIA Formula E teams have been found to have breached the sport’s financial regulations.

An announcement by the FIA concluded that Nissan had been fined €300,000 for a breach of two percent (€269,252), with Jaguar fined €100,000 for an overspend of £73,849, just 0.6 percent.

An additional penalty is that both teams will be suspended from running for half of the opening day of the upcoming pre-season test in Valencia, on November 4th.

In a statement, the FIA said: “The Cost Cap Administration recognised that the teams have acted cooperatively throughout the review process and have sought to provide additional information and evidence when requested in a timely manner, that this is the first year of the full application of the financial regulations and that there is no accusation or evidence of aggravating factors or that they have sought at any time to act in bad faith, dishonestly or in fraudulent manner, and nor has it wilfully concealed any information from the Cost Cap Administration.”

Both teams have accepted the charges and have also responded, with Nissan saying:

“Nissan Formula E team recognises to have unwittingly and unintentionally incurred in a minor procedural and overspend breach of 2.0% of the cost cap. The team has therefore signed an Accepted Breach of Agreement (ABA) as offered by the FIA Cost Cap Administration in order to resolve this matter.

“Following a very cooperative review process with the Cost Cap Administration and an exhaustive internal audit, Nissan Formula E team has determined that these minor breaches are exclusively related to the process of interpretation and adaption of the new financial regulations at a time when the team was also facing specific challenges linked to its change of ownership, full restructure, and relocation.

“Nissan Formula E Team has since put in place all the necessary precautions to avoid these kinds of miscalculations and oversights in the future.”

Jaguar said: “Following consultation with the FIA, we believe that had we filed correctly we would have been fully compliant with teams’ cost cap and the minor overspend breach would not have occurred.

“Unfortunately, we understand a refiling is not allowable by the current regulations and therefore due to these unintended procedural errors we are in a very minor overspend position. At no time did we seek or gain a technical or sporting advantage, as can be seen and confirmed by the Cost Cap Administration’s findings and the nature of the ABA.

“We will continue to work closely with the FIA going forward on the development and application of the cost cap and in the best interests of Formula E – the pinnacle of electric racing.”

A spokesperson for Formula E said: “We understand the findings and recognise the diligence with which the FIA carried out the complex review process, in what is the first full year of the Financial Regulations being in place.

“Although two teams were found to have been in minor breach, the championship accepts these were absolutely not intentional and appreciates the exceptional way that these teams have and continue to operate.”

Jaguar to run special livery in test

Jaguar has revealed its special one-off livery that it will be used in the Valencia test, the design a nod to the 16 different wins the team has achieved on 11 different circuits.

The big cat delivered its first-ever Formula E win at Rome in 2019, the team going from strength-to-strength since then, with highlights including a momentous one-two finish at the Monaco E-Prix last season.

The team, despite missing out on the Drivers’ title with Nick Cassidy and Mitch Evans, did secure the Teams’ and Manufacturers’ championships after a season of consistency and speed.

Its full season livery will be revealed in due course.

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