The Formula E championship has crowned its newest king. Oliver Rowland, behind the wheel for Nissan, secured his first-ever world title this Sunday. He locked in the win in Berlin, at the season’s second-to-last race. It was a day of celebration for Rowland. For Portugal’s António Félix da Costa, though, the weekend brought a mix of ninth and tenth place finishes.
Rowland’s Road to Glory
Rowland didn’t even need to win the Berlin E-Prix on Sunday. His fourth-place finish was more than enough to clinch the championship. This means he can celebrate early. The final double-header race weekend in London is still on the calendar. New Zealand’s Nick Cassidy, driving for Jaguar, actually took the victory on Sunday. Félix da Costa finished about nine seconds behind Cassidy, claiming ninth place.
A Weekend of Challenges for Félix da Costa
António Félix da Costa was quick to congratulate the new champion. “First, I want to say congratulations to Oliver Rowland,” he began. “He is clearly a worthy champion. He fully deserves this title.” However, Félix da Costa’s own weekend didn’t go as he had hoped. He shared his frustration, stating, “This weekend was supposed to bring us many good points. Unfortunately, that was not the case.”
He explained his troubles, pointing to a penalty from Saturday’s race. He had crossed the finish line in third place originally. But a penalty for touching another driver later dropped him to tenth. That same day, his teammate, Pascal Wehrlein of Germany, also pushed him into the barriers during practice. It was a tough string of events for the Portuguese driver.
Eyes on the London Finale
Looking at Sunday’s race, Félix da Costa admitted his team didn’t optimize their strategy. He specifically mentioned issues with energy management and the final activation of the Attack Mode. “Sometimes, races are just like that,” he noted, showing a sense of acceptance. Despite the setbacks, he highlighted a crucial positive for his team. “The important thing is that we still lead the team championship,” he said. Now, his focus shifts fully to the last two races in London. Félix da Costa’s goals are clear: “Win the team title and aim for second place in the drivers’ championship.” Those final races in London are scheduled for July 20 and 21.