From Mexico to Monaco: Oliver Rowland on winning the 2025 Formula E World Championship

I got to sit down with Formula E champion Oliver Rowland at the London E Prix as he reflected on his stunning 2025 season, from the euphoria of Mexico to title glory and what comes next for the returning Nissan driver.

This season has been incredible. It’s everything I’ve been working towards for so many years — not just myself, but the whole team.

Winning the Formula E World Championship still feels a bit surreal. It’s what we set out to do from the first race in Mexico, and to come full circle and lift the trophy at the end of it all… it’s difficult to describe just how satisfying that is.

There’s no doubt in my mind that this has been the most consistent, competitive, and rewarding year of my career so far. The results speak for themselves — race wins, podiums, pole positions — but beyond the numbers, I think what stands out most is how calm and in control I’ve felt, right from the start.

The season that started in Mexico

If there was a turning point, it came very early. That first race in Mexico was special. There’s always a bit of uncertainty going into a new season. No matter how much prep you’ve done in the off-season — in the simulator, with the engineers, physically and mentally — there’s still that question: “Where do we really stand against the others?”

So to come out and win in the style that we did — leading from the front, managing the race smartly, and dealing with pressure throughout — that gave me and the team a huge confidence boost. The euphoria afterward was amazing. You could feel it through the garage, in the paddock, and in myself. That was when our season truly kickstarted.

From that point on, we built momentum. Tokyo was another huge milestone. That was the race where I started to really believe the title was on. It’s one thing to win a race, but to back it up in a totally different setting, against some of the best drivers in the world, showed that we weren’t just one-hit wonders this season. We were title contenders.

Peak performances and staying grounded

I’d also highlight Monaco. Winning there always means a bit more. It’s one of those tracks where everything needs to be perfect — from setup and strategy to driver execution. To be at the top of your game in that environment is immensely satisfying. I think that performance, as much as any other, summed up our approach this year: clinical, composed, and committed.

Of course, there were challenges too. The end of the season was probably the toughest, mentally. We had built a strong lead in the championship, and when that happens the dynamic shifts. Instead of chasing, you’re being chased. Every race becomes a calculation — how much do you risk? How much do you defend? How do you stay aggressive without being reckless?

I think we managed that pressure well. But it wasn’t easy. You start thinking about the maths more than the driving, which is never ideal. That’s where having a great team around you really counts. Everyone at Nissan — from the mechanics to the strategy team — helped keep me grounded and focused.

The final weekend and a sense of legacy

Coming into the final weekend with both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ titles still up for grabs brought another layer of complexity. From my side, the drivers’ title was the main goal — and thankfully we got that done. But I wanted to bring home the team championship too. Not just for the points, but because this team deserves it. We’ve worked incredibly hard together, and I think a double (or triple) championship would have been the icing on the cake.

We came close, and I still feel proud of what we achieved. The atmosphere around the team all season has been phenomenal. We’ve been through a lot together, and to finish the year on top feels like a reward for all of those years of graft — the ups, the downs, the travelling, the long nights in the garage.

Looking ahead

The off-season will be short, as always. I’ll be flying out with my team-mate for a bit of a celebration — maybe a couple of days to decompress — and then some proper downtime with my wife and daughter. That’s important. These seasons are long and intense, and you need to recharge mentally as well as physically.

But it won’t be long before we’re back in the simulator, back in the gym, and back on track preparing to defend the title. I’m excited for that. It’s one thing to win the world championship — another to defend it. That’s the new target.

There’s also a sense of responsibility. Formula E is evolving fast. The technology is improving, the teams are getting sharper, and the fanbase is growing. As a champion, you carry the torch for what this series represents — innovation, sustainability, proper wheel-to-wheel racing.

I’m proud to be part of that story.