Rowland Charges To P2 After São Paulo Comeback Drive
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December 6, 2025. São Paulo. In a race that tried its best to be sensible and failed, the Nissan Formula E Team’s British driver charged from the midfield to take second, while the team’s French driver flashed pace all day only to see it undone by contact and an early exit.
Weekend Context
Friday’s opening practice was scrubbed after the radio comms decided to take a holiday, so the morning belonged to an extended FP2. Both Nissan machines ended that session inside the top ten, which was a welcome sign after a workmanlike start to the weekend. Qualifying was a mixed bag: the Brit just missed the top four in Group A and began the race 13th after serving a three-place penalty carried over from the Season 11 finale in London. The French driver was a touch sharper, topping Group B, wrestling his way into the duels and lining up seventh on the grid.
Race Drama
The race opened in typical city-circuit chaos. Both cars stayed out of the worst of it; the French contender slipped up to fourth and the British contender found his way into the top ten. Attack Mode shuffled the order more than once, and remarkably both teammates led the race at different moments, which sounds like harmony until it does not. On Lap 17 the two of them met awkwardly. The contact forced the French car into the pits and into retirement a lap later, a bitter end for a driver who had looked set for a solid haul.
Meanwhile the British driver kept his head, retook the lead at one point and rode the wave of luck that comes with perfectly timed Full Course Yellows and Safety Cars. A late Safety Car arrived with about a minute left on his second Attack Mode and the restart required a calm nerve. A subsequent Red Flag threw in another twist but, when the dust finally settled, he had climbed 11 places to claim second and a tidy bank of points to start the season.
Team Reaction
The team principal described the weekend as a mixed triumph. A podium on the opening weekend is pleasing, he said, and the pace from both cars was evident. The contact between teammates is frustrating and will be reviewed so it does not repeat, yet overall the trophy and the points were welcome.
The British driver admitted the day had been messy but satisfying. Qualifying was tricky and the three-place penalty did not help, he said, but timing and a determined climb through the field made for a strong result. He noted that the points haul was noticeably better than last year and that the championship will be tight, so making the most of chances like this is crucial.
The French driver expressed annoyance at an otherwise promising weekend. Being quickest in his qualifying group and running inside the top five felt like progress, he said, and retiring after contact with his teammate was an unhappy conclusion. He wants to put it behind him and focus on the next race.
Next Up
Formula E resumes in the New Year with the Mexico City E-Prix at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez on January 10, 2026. The team heads there optimistic, eager to turn the pace shown in São Paulo into consistent points and perhaps a bit more luck.
Zachary Skinner is the editor of TechDrivePlay.com, where tech, cars and adventure share the fast lane.
A former snowboarding pro and programmer, he brings both creative flair and technical know-how to his reviews. From high-performance cars to clever gadgets, he explores how innovation shapes the way we move, connect and live.
