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Formula E: Oliver Rowland Extends His Championship Lead in Monaco

Originally posted on Last Word On Sports
By Ayla Vaughan | Last updated May 3, 2025 12:22 PM ET

Nissan’s Oliver Rowland claimed his first-ever win in Monaco, extending his lead in the drivers’ championship with a commanding performance in Race 1.

Monaco E-Prix Race 1: Debut Win and Strategic Brilliance Steal the Spotlight

Race 1 of the Monaco E-Prix delivered plenty of drama, with Oliver Rowland claiming a debut win, Antonio Felix da Costa losing out on important points, and Andretti putting in a standout performance.

Rowland Takes the Win

Despite a crash in Qualifying, Rowland started from the front row in Race 1 of the Monaco E-Prix, lining up behind McLaren’s Taylor Barnard. Thanks to a rapid repair job by the team, he was back on track and unfazed heading into the race.

For much of the opening half, Rowland was behind Barnard, applying consistent pressure. The breakthrough came at Turn 10, the Nouvelle Chicane, a prime overtaking zone, where Rowland took the lead.

Rowland‘s strategy played a key role. Taking his attack mode later in the race allowed him to overtake rivals and pull clear with pace and energy to spare. He also timed it perfectly around the two full-course yellows, ensuring no activation time was wasted.

This victory marks the Briton’s first in Monaco, having previously stood on the podium in 2019 with a second-place finish.

Apart from the earlier Qualifying mishap, Rowland delivered a composed and confident drive, knowing he had the pace to secure the win.

A first win for @oliverrowland1 in Monaco

What a race!#MonacoEPrix pic.twitter.com/sIU54Iun4N

— Formula E (@FIAFormulaE) May 3, 2025

With this result, Rowland now leads the championship by 34 points over Pascal Wehrlein.

Antonio Felix da Costa Crashes Out

It was a day to forget for Porsche’s Antonio Felix da Costa, who crashed out at Turn 18-19, the Anthony Noghes corner, bringing his Monaco E-Prix outing to a premature end.

The Portuguese driver, attempting to hold the inside line alongside another car, ran out of space and clipped the barrier. The impact caused significant damage, forcing him to retire.

This crash is a major blow to da Costa’s championship campaign. He began the day second in the standings but now finds himself behind his teammate. Wehrlein, finishing sixth, has overtaken him in the rankings, not sitting just six points ahead.

Yet another fastest lap from @PWehrlein !

After finishing in the top 10, Wehrlein clinches an extra point in Round 6 #MonacoEPrix pic.twitter.com/z2vCTorNGp

— Formula E (@FIAFormulaE) May 3, 2025

Fortunately for da Costa, another opportunity awaits in Race 2, where he will look to regain momentum and stay in the title hunt.

Mueller and Dennis Deliver Strategic Masterclass for Andretti

Both Nico Mueller and Jake Dennis executed a smart strategy to keep Andretti in podium contention throughout Race 1.

During the second full-course yellow, triggered when Evans lost power, Mueller took his pit boost. This was a decision that minimised time loss and vaulted him up the order. He then used his attack mode in the final stages to maintain a strong position.

Meanwhile, Dennis was handed a five-second penalty for speeding during the earlier caution period.

To reduce the impact, the Andretti team cleverly instructed Mueller to allow Dennis through. By running in fourth, Mueller worked to create a five-second buffer between Dennis and the chasing pack.

The tactic worked perfectly. Dennis crossed the line in third, his time penalty nullified by the gap behind. Mueller, however, was narrowly denied fourth place, overtaken by Edoardo Mortara on the final lap by just 0.156 seconds, and finishing fifth.

It was a calculated and well-executed team effort, proving vital in salvaging a podium for the American team.