MIAMI – The Nissan Formula E Team endured a challenging weekend at Round 3 of the 2025/26 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, with neither Oliver Rowland nor Norman Nato breaking into the top 10 at the Miami E-Prix.
Nato had shown early promise during qualifying on a dry track, setting the fastest time in his group to advance into the Duels, while teammate Rowland narrowly missed out on a top-four finish. However, unpredictable weather soon reshuffled the deck. Rain before the race left the Miami International Autodrome slippery, and with the track failing to dry as anticipated, Nissan’s decision to run a dry-weather setup left both cars struggling for grip.
Starting from eighth and 14th, Nato and Rowland fought hard but were unable to make a significant impact. Rowland managed to climb to 12th by the race’s end and claimed the Fastest Lap, while Nato finished 17th. Despite the tough conditions, the team highlighted positives from their Rookie Free Practice session on Friday. Rookie simulator driver Abbi Pulling and Formula 2 racer Gabriele Minì contributed to a productive 40-minute session, gathering vital data ahead of future races. Minì posted the third fastest time, while Pulling ended 11th despite encountering traffic during her 350kW laps.
Tommaso Volpe, Nissan Formula E Team principal, reflected on the weekend’s difficulties: “It’s been a difficult weekend for us. Norman showed how strong our pace can be in qualifying, but our car lacks speed in wet conditions. A series of mistakes meant we could not capitalize on Norman’s strong qualifying or give Oliver a chance to recover. We’ll now focus on Jeddah, the first double-header of the season, and look to bounce back in the championship.”
Rowland added: “We had a difficult weekend overall. Free Practice was tough, which made qualifying tricky. The dry setup was a gamble given the wet conditions, and while our performance improved in the final laps, it was too late. We need to address these issues ahead of Saudi Arabia.”
Nato echoed the sentiment: “Every Formula E race is unpredictable. Today, our setup gamble didn’t pay off, but setting the fastest time in my qualifying group shows we have pace. We need to keep working hard as the season progresses.”
Rookies Pulling and Minì also gained valuable experience. Pulling said: “It was great to be back trackside. The session was useful for both my development and the team. I’m confident this experience will help me further in my simulator role.” Minì added: “Being back in the car was a positive learning experience. The session went well, and comparing data with Oli was invaluable. I hope to return soon.”
With Miami behind them, Nissan now turns its focus to Jeddah, aiming to convert their potential into points in the first double-header of the 2025/26 season.
