Nissan Formula E Team left the Miami EPrix without points after Round 3 of the 2025/26 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. Neither defending champion Oliver Rowland nor teammate Norman Nato finished inside the top 10, as a strategic miscalculation on weather conditions undermined the team’s race-day performance at the Miami International Autodrome on January 31.
Highlights
- Nato topped his qualifying group but finished 17th after Nissan’s dry-weather setup failed to suit persistent mixed conditions during the race.
- Rowland recovered to 12th from 14th on the grid and recorded the race’s Fastest Lap despite limited grip throughout the event.
- Rookie Free Practice showed promise, with Formula 2 driver Gabriele Minì posting the third-fastest time and simulator driver Abbi Pulling finishing 11th.
- Nissan now shifts focus to Jeddah, the season’s first double-header, seeking to recover lost ground in the championship standings.
Qualifying Pace Offset by Race-Day Gamble
Nato demonstrated strong one-lap speed on a dry surface during qualifying, setting the fastest time in his group and advancing to the Duels knockout stage. Rowland narrowly missed a top-four qualifying position.
Rain arrived ahead of the race start, creating a slippery track surface. The team anticipated rapid drying and committed both cars to dry-weather setups. The mixed conditions persisted for most of the race, leaving both drivers without the grip needed to compete effectively.
Race Results Fall Short
Nato started eighth and Rowland lined up 14th. Both drivers fought through the field but could not overcome the setup disadvantage. Rowland gained two positions in the closing laps, climbing to 12th and claiming the Fastest Lap bonus point. Nato dropped to 17th at the checkered flag.
Team principal Tommaso Volpe acknowledged the strategic error. He noted the car’s limitations in wet conditions and pointed to operational mistakes that compounded the problem. Volpe described the weekend as one to move past quickly, with the Jeddah double-header offering an immediate opportunity to recover championship points.
Rookie Session Delivers Valuable Data
Friday’s Rookie Free Practice provided a productive counterpoint to the race-day struggles. Pulling and Minì supported the team’s first visit to the Miami International Autodrome, collecting data as part of Nissan’s ongoing driver development program.
Minì posted the third-fastest time in the 40-minute session, performing well in both 300kW and 350kW power modes. Pulling finished 11th after encountering traffic during her high-power laps but reported feeling comfortable in the car.
Championship Context
Rowland enters the Jeddah rounds as the reigning Formula E Drivers’ World Champion after securing the Season 11 title with four victories, seven podiums, and three pole positions. Nissan remains the only Japanese manufacturer in the series and has committed to the GEN4 era through 2030.
The team will look to rebound at the Jeddah double-header, which represents the first back-to-back race weekend of the 2025/26 season.
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