Round 3 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship was a struggle for Nissan. The reigning champion, Oliver Rowland, and teammate Norman Nato were both unable to climb into the top 10 during the Miami E-Prix. Despite initially showing a strong pace in Qualifying, Nato was unable to progress beyond the semi-final after running over the kerb at Turn 13 and losing time. After qualifying outside the top 5, both drivers needed a recovery drive. They were unable to make it, with Rowland finishing the race in P12 and Nato in P17.
Nissan Team Principal Tommaso Volpe spoke about the difficult Miami E-Prix weekend, saying:
“It’s been a difficult weekend for us. Norman showed how strong our pace can be by setting the fastest time in his qualifying group, but our car lacks some speed in wet conditions. The weather showed the limitations of our package, and then a series of mistakes from our side meant that we could not capitalize on Norman’s good qualifying or give Oliver the chance to recover. It has been a weekend to forget, so we will quickly switch our focus to Jeddah. It will be the first double-header of the season, so a great opportunity for us to bounce back and recover points for our championship fight.”
Rowland: “It was worth a gamble”
The Miami E-Prix was defined by challenging conditions, bold overtakes, and chaos. However, for the Nissan Formula E Team, it was defined by disappointment. The team opted for a dry-weather set-up despite the slippery surface. The choice made it difficult for the drivers to fight their way up the grid. Rowland eventually set the fastest lap and moved up to P12, but it was still not enough for a points finish.
Rowland reflected on the tough Miami E-Prix weekend for Nissan, saying:
“We had a difficult weekend overall. Free Practice was tough, so that made it hard for us in qualifying. We tried everything we could in the race. Usually we don’t have great pace in the wet, so it was worth a gamble on the dry set-up. The performance was strong in the final few laps, but unfortunately it was too late. We were hoping the track would dry out and energy management would become important, but it never materialized. We did a decent job with what we had, but we need to focus on these issues ahead of the next event in Saudi Arabia.”
Teammate Nato also admitted that the team’s set-up mistake was doomed. However, the Frenchman still took some positives from the weekend.
“Every race in Formula E is different and today we made a mistake with the set-up, thinking the track would dry in the race. In the end it was the wrong decision for both cars, but it’s not a completely negative day as I set the fastest time in my group in qualifying, showing we have pace. We’ve got some progress to make, but this championship is very unpredictable and we need to keep working hard ahead of Jeddah.”
Miami E-Prix Rookie Free Practice
Friday’s Rookie Free Practice saw the team field two rookie drivers. Nissan simulator driver Abbi Pulling and F2 driver Gabriele Minì helped the team gather important data before the Miami E-Prix. Pulling looked solid early on, but a spin in Turn 11 had her flat-spot her tyres. The rookie finished the session in P11.
Speaking about the experience, Pulling stated:
“It’s my first time being trackside with the team for a while and I was really happy to be back. We prepared well, Norman gave me some useful advice and I learned a lot from talking with him. The session started well and we had strong pace, all while getting through our program. I got some traffic in the 350kW mode, which affected my position on the timesheet, but the running was useful for the team and that’s the most important part. It was tough with the cool conditions, but I felt comfortable in the car and I’m confident this experience will help me even more for my role in the simulator. Looking forward to the next time to continue my development!”
Minì had a successful session, setting the third-fastest time. Reflecting on the positive day, he said:
“It was great to be back with the team after a while out of the car. It was another positive learning experience, with the track walk and briefing ahead of the Rookie Free Practice. The session was productive, we completed our plan and I was able to set strong lap times in both 300 and 350kW modes. Oli was really helpful, he gave me lots of tips and it was great to compare my data to his to see where I can improve further. A big thanks to the team and I hope to be back in the car again soon.”
