After securing P2 in the Season 12 opener in São Paulo, Oliver Rowland, the reigning Formula E World Champion carried that momentum into Mexico City, navigating an intense Qualifying session and a fractured, incident-filled race to claim his second podium of the season with a hard-earned P3 finish.
At a circuit known for punishing the smallest errors, Rowland’s performance reflected control rather than dominance. Amid a tightly packed grid and relentless strategic pressure, the Nissan driver prioritised consistency, leaving Mexico City firmly positioned among the early championship protagonists.
Early momentum in a highly competitive field
Speaking to the media after the race, Rowland reflected on the significance of opening the season with back-to-back podiums, particularly given the depth of competition already evident across the field.
“We know how competitive it is this year, so I think to score two podiums in the first two races is a really solid start to the season.”
However, Rowland remained realistic about the challenge ahead. With Qualifying margins shrinking and performance levels converging, he acknowledged that maintaining this form throughout the year would demand near-perfection.
“It’s just going to be tough, I think, when you look at Qualifying and how tight it is, and the level of drivers and teams here, it’s going to be a tough season.”
The early rounds have already highlighted how little separates success from setback, placing a premium on execution across every session.
Chaos, control, and a crucial recovery
Despite the positive result, Rowland’s Mexico City race was far from straightforward. As Nick Cassidy surged to victory and Edoardo Mortara fought aggressively for second, Rowland found himself on the wrong end of one of the race’s most decisive moments during his first Attack Mode activation.
“But I’m really happy with today. I think obviously I was quite unlucky during my first activation of Attack Mode. I ended up off in the grass and in about 13th place.”
He added, “I was actually lucky that the Full Course Yellow stayed out for a while because I was pretty angry, and I think had it started again I probably would have done something that I might have regretted, but I managed to calm down and come back with a good pace at the end.”
The Full Course Yellow, triggered after Nyck de Vries stopped at Turn 1, proved pivotal. It allowed Rowland to reset mentally, regain composure, and rejoin the fight with renewed focus. From there, he methodically carved his way back through the field, capitalising on late-race incidents and maintaining strong pace to recover a podium finish.
The “Mexico City phenomenon”
As the reigning Formula E World Champion and the winner of the 2025 Mexico City E-Prix, Rowland was asked to reflect on the so-called “Mexico City Phenomenon” and Nick Cassidy’s prospects of claiming the Season 12 title. With the last three winners of the Mexico City E-Prix going on to secure the championship in their respective seasons — including Rowland himself — the pattern has become a recurring point of discussion.
However, the Nissan driver downplayed any predictive value, insisting that the championship fight remains wide open. While refusing to be drawn into superstition, Rowland nonetheless acknowledged the strength of his rival, who opened the season with a P3 finish in Brazil.
“No, I mean, let’s see at the end of the year. He would be deserving, to be honest.”
A fierce challenge ahead
Ultimately, Rowland leaves Mexico City confident put realistic. Two podiums from two races represent a strong foundation, but the early signs of Season 12 have already made one thing clear: nothing will come easily. For the reigning champion, the challenge now lies not in proving speed, but in sustaining precision, patience, and emotional control across a season where margins remain unforgiving from front to back.
