Nissan’s Rowland clinches Formula E title with gritty drive in Berlin

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Nissan’s Oliver Rowland sealed the 2024/25 ABB FIA Formula E Drivers’ World Championship on Sunday with a composed fourth-place finish in the Hankook Berlin E-Prix Round 14, overcoming a five-place grid penalty to secure the title with two races to spare.

With title rival Pascal Wehrlein needing to outscore the Nissan driver to keep his hopes alive, the race was finely poised – but Rowland delivered when it mattered most.

Wehrlein had entered Sunday’s race with renewed momentum after a second-place finish in Round 13 on Saturday and a dominant pole position for Round 14.

In the early stages, Porsche-powered cars controlled proceedings. Wehrlein led from the front with the support of teammate Antonio Felix da Costa and customer-team CUPRA KIROs, Dan Ticktum and David Beckmann, acting as a protective buffer.

But as the strategic ATTACK MODE activations came into play, Rowland’s characteristic racecraft began to shine. He muscled through the top 10 with bold overtakes and made decisive gains by timing his 50kW boosts perfectly—jumping from ninth to the front of the lead pack by Lap 34.

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Wehrlein, meanwhile, struggled for pace and fell out of the points, his title defence fading with every lap. He eventually crossed the line in a distant 16th, confirming Rowland’s triumph.

Cassidy Storms to Victory

As Rowland held steady in fourth, Jaguar’s Nick Cassidy surged from 20th on the grid to claim a spectacular win – his team’s second of the weekend.

Backed by strong energy management and a well-executed strategy, the Kiwi charged past Rowland, Jean-Eric Vergne (DS Penske), and Jake Dennis (Andretti) in the closing laps. Vergne and Dennis rounded out the podium, with Rowland following them home, unchallenged in the final moments as battles unfolded behind him.

Title Wrapped Early – Focus Turns to Teams’ Standings

Rowland’s title is the earliest Formula E Drivers’ Championship clinch since Antonio Felix da Costa’s 2020 triumph, also in Berlin.

The result marks a huge achievement for Nissan, which now trails Porsche in the Teams’ standings – now trailing by just 22 points. Porsche also leads also lead the Manufacturers' table by only seven points from Nissan.

Formula E now heads to its season-ending double-header at London’s ExCeL Arena on 26–27 July, where the team titles remain very much in play.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.