Oliver Rowland managed to beat Porsche duo and secure a much-deserved Formula E win at the Mexico City E-Prix 2025.
The race, held on January 11, 2025, at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, unfolded dramatically, featuring intense battles among the top drivers and a series of pivotal moments that ultimately shaped the outcome.
From the outset, the Mexico City E-Prix 2025 race was set against a backdrop of high expectations. Porsche’s Pascal Wehrlein secured pole position, flanked by his teammate Antonio Felix da Costa with the two keen to maintain their dominance from previous seasons.
As the lights turned green, Wehrlein and da Costa executed a flawless start, maintaining their positions at the front while Oliver Rowland and Jean-Eric Vergne battled for third place.
The early laps saw minimal overtaking due to the challenging nature of the circuit, which is not particularly energy-sensitive. This allowed drivers to push their cars without the usual concerns about battery management that characterize many Formula E races.
However, as the Mexico City E-Prix 2025 race progressed, tension began to build. Oliver Rowland, who had started fourth, quickly made his move by overtaking Vergne and positioning himself behind the leading Porsches.
As the laps ticked away, strategies began to unfold with the mandatory Attack Mode activations. The Attack Mode is a unique feature in Formula E that allows drivers to gain additional power for a limited time but requires them to navigate through a designated activation zone on track.
By Lap 12, drivers began to activate their Attack Modes in an attempt to gain track position. Wehrlein and da Costa initially managed to hold their lead despite this strategic play from their rivals.
However, it wasn’t long before chaos ensued when Edoardo Mortara’s Mahindra collided with Dan Ticktum’s Cupra Kiro during a mid-race skirmish, leading to the first safety car deployment. This incident brought all cars back together to clear the track and set the stage for a thrilling restart.
When the Mexico City E-Prix 2025 race resumed on Lap 31, Rowland found himself in an advantageous position with one minute of Attack Mode still available and as soon as the green flag waved again, the Nissan Formula E Team driver unleashed his remaining Attack Mode power.
In a breathtaking display of skill and timing, he executed a remarkable series of overtakes in quick succession. He first passed Jake Dennis into Turn 1, then maneuvered past Wehrlein at the chicane before finally overtaking da Costa as they entered the Foro Sol stadium section.
This stunning half-lap performance not only secured him the lead but also showcased his ability to capitalize on opportunities when they arose.
However, the excitement was not over yet; shortly after Rowland took control of the race, another safety car was deployed after Mitch Evans crashed into the wall. This incident further complicated matters for da Costa and Wehrlein as they struggled to make ground against Rowland’s newfound lead.
When Mexico City E-Prix 2025 race resumed once more on Lap 32, the British driver had already established a half-second advantage over his nearest rival.
In the final laps, Oliver Rowland demonstrated composure under pressure as he maintained his lead against both da Costa and Wehrlein. Despite their attempts to close in on him, his strategic use of Attack Mode and his deft handling of his Nissan allowed him to fend off challenges effectively.
Rowland ultimately crossed the finish line first after 36 laps of exhilarating racing action. His victory was not just a personal triumph; it also disrupted Porsche’s stronghold on success in Mexico City over recent seasons.
Meanwhile Da Costa finished second and took over as championship leader with 37 points overall after two races, as Wehrlein secured third place with his first points of the season.
Mexico City E-Prix 2025 concluded with an impressive top five that included Jake Dennis in fourth and Jean-Eric Vergne in fifth.
Other notable performances came from Maximilian Günther and Stoffel Vandoorne, who finished sixth and seventh respectively. Meanwhile, Nyck de Vries, Nico Müller and Jake Hughes rounded out the top ten.
