Oliver Rowland charged from eighth on the grid to win Round 10 of the 2025/26 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship in Monaco, delivering the kind of patient drive that’s made him a champion.
The Nissan driver timed his ATTACK MODE strategy perfectly, sweeping past the leaders at the Nouvelle Chicane on lap 23 of 28. He led home Andretti’s Felipe Drugovich, who claimed his first Formula E podium, with Jaguar TCS Racing’s Antonio Félix da Costa completing the rostrum.
It was Rowland’s second consecutive Monaco victory.
The result showed why Nissan’s faith in the Yorkshireman has paid off so well. As Rowland said in his recent EV Powered interview, energy management and patience separate the champions from the chasers in Gen3 Formula E.
Monaco proved that point perfectly.
Chaos at the start
Double polesitter Dan Ticktum led the field away in his CUPRA KIRO, with da Costa slotting in behind through Sainte-Devote. The Portuguese veteran’s afternoon fell apart almost immediately when contact with Mahindra Racing’s Edoardo Mortara at the Nouvelle Chicane sent him tumbling to 15th.
Mortara received a 10-second time penalty for the incident.
Citroën Racing’s Jean-Éric Vergne jumped on the chaos to climb into third, while Mortara surged through to lead by lap two. He built a two-second cushion before the steward’s verdict landed.
Porsche’s Nico Müller was first to gamble on ATTACK MODE – the 50kW all-wheel-drive boost launched him to the front on lap four. Jaguar’s Mitch Evans then produced the move of the race at Mirabeau on lap 11, echoing his famous Season 7 overtake at the same corner to take the lead under ATTACK.
Rowland waits for his moment
While the front-runners scrapped and shuffled positions, Rowland conducted the kind of patient, energy-conscious race that’s become a trademark of the Nissan team. The Brit kept his powder dry, conserving energy as those ahead burned through theirs in repeated lead changes.
By lap 20, da Costa had hauled himself into the lead under ATTACK and built a five-second buffer. But Rowland was lurking with both activations still in hand – and crucially no rival behind with an ATTACK overlap.
The decisive blow came at the Nouvelle Chicane on lap 23, where Rowland pounced for the lead.
A pair of Full Course Yellows threatened to derail his rhythm. One came for a stranded Pepe Martí after contact with Citroën’s Nick Cassidy at Rascasse, another for Taylor Barnard’s heavy crash at Portier on lap 26. The Nissan driver managed both restarts without any issues to take the checkered flag.
Mortara crossed the line second but slipped to fifth once his penalty was applied, gifting Drugovich a breakthrough P2. Da Costa banked third, with Jaguar teammate Evans fourth and Andretti’s Jake Dennis rounding out the top six.
Ticktum couldn’t convert despite his double pole. A late penalty after his end-of-race ATTACK gamble dropped the CUPRA KIRO driver to 14th and out of the points.
Title fight heats up
Evans heads to Sanya at the top of the Drivers’ standings with Rowland breathing down his neck. Jaguar lead Porsche in the Teams’ fight while Porsche edge Jaguar in the Manufacturers’ table.
According to Motorsport.com’s analysis, it’s precisely this composure under pressure that’s defined Rowland’s title-winning approach. Monaco offered the latest exhibit.
Formula E now heads east for the long-awaited return to Sanya on 20 June – the championship’s first visit to the Chinese resort city in seven seasons.
If Round 10 is anything to go by, the title fight’s about to get much hotter.
