Formula E

Formula E in Berlin: Nick Cassidy wins on Sunday, Oliver Rowland secures the world championship title with 4th place!

Timo Pape

Timo Pape

Craig Evans / Spacesuit Media

Oliver Rowland is Formula E World Champion 2024-25! Fourth place in Sunday's race in Berlin was enough for the Nissan driver to clinch the title, as world championship rival Pascal Wehrlein (Porsche) only finished 16th after a botched strategy. The race win surprisingly went to Jaguar driver Nick Cassidy, who had started from 20th place! Jake Dennis and Jean-Eric Vergne - also surprisingly - completed the podium.

At the start, all the drivers got away well and held back from attacking. Pascal Wehrlein defended his pole position ahead of Dan Ticktum, while Antonio Felix da Costa remained third. However, the Portuguese driver lost two positions to Taylor Barnard and Robin Frijns on the first lap. Oliver Rowland made up a place and was seventh after one lap. One lap later, however, he had to give up another position to Nico Müller.

David Beckmann was the first driver to get his first of two Attack Modes early on and also overtook Rowland. The first lead change took place on lap 5: Ticktum overtook Wehrlein. Beckmann initially fought his way up to second place with his four-wheel drive and then took the lead from his Kiro team-mate Ticktum - something that had not happened for a long time.

The two protected each other from the attacks of Felix da Costa, who was now ahead of Wehrlein. Without Attack Mode, Beckmann gradually fell back. Wehrlein moved back into the lead on lap 9. As expected, there were many shifts in the early stages as the drivers tried to save as much energy as possible. Rowland now also worked his way into the top 5. Ticktum and Felix da Costa battled side by side over several corners for second place behind Wehrlein.

Buemi retirement neutralises the race

The leading quartet, consisting of the two Porsche drivers, Ticktum and Frijns, continued to swap positions. Then Barnard also moved into the lead. Ticktum lost a few places, including to Rowland, and dropped back to eighth place. At the halfway point of the race (19/38), Barnard took the lead from Felix da Costa for the first time. Sebastien Buemi then stopped on the track with a technical problem. Race control had to send out the safety car, which brought the field back together.

At the end of lap 21, the race continued at race pace. Barnard led the field ahead of Felix da Costa, Wehrlein and Mitch Evans. However, the McLaren driver turned directly into the attack zone, lost the lead briefly, but regained it a little later thanks to the extra power. Then came the next accident - and the next safety car! Barnard lost more than two minutes in Attack Mode - annoying for the Brit.

Müller and Sam Bird collided in turn 2: The Swiss driver came off the power pedal earlier to recuperate, Bird did not. As a result, the Briton hit the left rear of the Andretti with his right front wheel. Bird in particular suffered so much damage that he was unable to continue. This was followed by a few more laps behind the safety car before the race resumed on lap 26 under the green flag.

Rowland advances, Wehrlein falls back

This time, Wehrlein took Attack Mode. He dropped back to fourth place in the meantime and was initially stuck behind Evans for a lap. However, the Jaguar driver and Felix da Costa then also came through the attack zone. On lap 27, Wehrlein regained the lead from Barnard. Things were now getting wild in the leading group. Rowland took the lead for the first time on lap 29. Wehrlein, on the other hand, was pushed further and further down the field to 13th place without Attack Mode!

After the first Attack Mode run, Evans led ahead of Felix da Costa, Jean-Eric Vergne and Rowland. Felix da Costa then took the lead again. Rowland picked up his second Attack Mode on lap 33, as did Wehrlein, who was now actually last! Vergne was now leading the race, but had to let Rowland past again on lap 34. Wehrlein fought his way back to the front with a total of six minutes of Attack Mode remaining.

However, the German was unable to advance any further than 14th position with his extra power - his energy levels did not look good either. In the meantime, Nick Cassidy had taken the lead - ahead of Jake Dennis and Vergne. Rowland was fourth and therefore in a good position to secure the championship title!

Final phase with surprising podium

The final two laps began - the race director had extended the E-Prix to 41 laps. After a thrilling duel between Evans and Barnard, race control briefly called a full-course yellow because Robin Frijns retired. Then it was on to the final lap! The tension in the Nissan pits rose. Cassidy made no more mistakes and took the win in Berlin! Dennis finished second and Vergne completed the podium. However, fourth place was decisive: Oliver Rowland scored the points he needed to become Formula E World Champion for the first time!

The jubilation at Nissan knew no bounds. Rowland cried on the radio and received congratulations from his daughter, among others. With 59 points, he can no longer be caught in the drivers' championship and has also brought Nissan closer to Porsche in the team championship. The next Formula E race will take place in just two weeks' time. The big season finale with two more races in London is then on the agenda.

Results & lap times

Championship standings (drivers, teams & manufacturers)

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