JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia – Nissan Formula E Team bounced back in style in Round 5 of the 2025/26 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, with Oliver Rowland claiming his third podium of the season in Jeddah. The result marked a strong recovery after a challenging opening race of the double-header.
Friday’s action saw mixed fortunes for the squad. Norman Nato impressed in qualifying, reaching the semi-finals of the Duels and starting fourth. He led several laps before his Pit Boost stop, but struggled to maintain position in the pack, ultimately finishing 13th. Rowland, meanwhile, was unable to advance from 16th on the grid and crossed the line in 17th, making for a tough start to the weekend for the reigning World Champion.
Saturday’s E-Prix, however, told a very different story. Rowland delivered a commanding performance in his 100th Formula E start, starting from fourth and taking the lead early in the race. Efficient energy management and a decisive Attack Mode strategy saw him move into the top three during the final six minutes, securing a podium finish. Nato, despite a strong effort, started 15th after narrowly missing the Duels and was unable to make significant headway, finishing 17th.
Tommaso Volpe, Nissan Formula E Team managing director and team principal, praised the team’s resilience: “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, but both drivers lacked pace in the race. We worked hard overnight to find the issues and Oli immediately felt better in the car, qualifying fourth and putting together a strong race to secure third. It’s great to end the weekend with a trophy as we head to Madrid.”
Rowland echoed the sentiment, reflecting on the turnaround: “Friday was tough, I clipped the wall in FP2 and we lacked pace in qualifying. The team worked really hard overnight to adjust the car and it paid off today. Leading from the start helped me stay out of trouble, and it was a well-managed race. It’s great to be back on the podium.”
Nato, while disappointed with his results, remained focused on the next challenge: “I’m frustrated to leave Jeddah with no points after a positive start yesterday. A technical issue affected our pace, and today it was very difficult to move forward in such a competitive field. Motorsport can be unpredictable, but now our focus is on improving for Madrid.”
Formula E now turns its attention to the Circuito del Jarama in Madrid for the championship’s first visit to the historic Spanish venue on 20–21 March. With Rowland back on the podium and the team working tirelessly to overcome setbacks, Nissan enters the next round with renewed momentum and determination.
