In a dramatic and challenging return to the Jakarta International E-Prix Circuit, the Nissan Formula E Team showcased incredible resilience, fighting back from a disastrous qualifying session to secure crucial points and unexpectedly strengthen its grip on the 2024/25 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship titles. Driver Oliver Rowland overcame a penalty to finish in the top 10, while teammate Norman Nato set the fastest lap of the race, proving the team’s formidable pace even when luck wasn’t on their side.
The race weekend began under a cloud, both literally and figuratively. Overnight rain left the tarmac muddy and treacherous, creating extremely poor track conditions for the qualifying session. Both Nissan drivers were caught out by the slippery surface and heavy traffic, failing to advance to the knockout duels stage of qualifying. This left championship leader Rowland starting a lowly P16, with Nato at the back of the grid in P21, setting the stage for a monumental comeback effort.
As the lights went out, Rowland immediately went on the offensive. He masterfully carved his way through the pack, gaining two positions on the very first lap and continuing his relentless charge into the top 10. However, his race was fraught with challenges. During the frantic final stages, two Full Course Yellow periods neutralized the race precisely during Rowland’s six-minute Attack Mode—a temporary 350kW power boost that is critical for overtaking. This stalled his progress, though he still managed to cross the finish line in an impressive seventh place. A post-race five-second penalty for an earlier collision, which is still under investigation, ultimately demoted him to 10th, but the single point earned was vital.
“We executed a very good race after a disappointing qualifying,” Rowland commented. “I was still able to extend my lead in the Drivers’ Championship by a point, which could still be very important at the end of the season”.
On the other side of the garage, Norman Nato’s race was a story of immense pace undone by sheer misfortune. After moving up several places in the first half of the E-Prix, his strategy was completely compromised when a Safety Car was deployed during his own Attack Mode window, neutralizing any advantage he had. Despite this, Nato showcased the raw speed of the Nissan package by weaving through the field to gain seven positions and, most impressively, setting the fastest overall lap of the entire race. Though he finished 14th, his performance was a clear statement of intent.
“It’s the story of my season so far that the performance isn’t reflected in the results, but we know that we can still secure valuable championship points in the final rounds,” Nato reflected.
Despite the on-track adversity, the weekend was a strategic victory for Nissan. Rowland’s single point extended his lead in the Drivers’ Standings to 69 points. Furthermore, Nissan continues to lead the fiercely contested Manufacturers’ Championship and sits just 12 points shy of the top spot in the Teams’ Standings, with four crucial races remaining.
Team Principal Tommaso Volpe praised his drivers’ tenacity. “Despite [a tough qualifying], both Oli and Norman delivered great drives… we still remain in a strong position to fight for all three championships in the last four races and we will do just that, one race at a time”.
With the Jakarta dust settled, the team now looks ahead to the next battle at the Tempelhof Airport Street Circuit in Berlin on July 12-13, ready to convert their evident pace into the dominant results they are chasing.
