Nato disappointed after Nissan crash at the Formula E race in Sao Paulo: "Would have finished minimum top 5"

For Nissan, the first race of the 2025/26 Formula E World Championship was one of highs and lows. In the end, the team was able to secure a podium finish with Oliver Rowland, which more or less concealed the racing team's weaknesses. However, the reigning world champion was not able to dominate the race. His team-mate Norman Nato initially had a better weekend, but had to park his car after a collision with Rowland of all people.

Nissan's overall package at the Sao Paulo E-Prix was weaker than that of Porsche or Jaguar. This was already evident in qualifying, when Rowland did not make it past the group stage. However, Nato, who was driving with the "Nissan number" 23 for the first time, surprisingly won his group and had a better weekend than his team-mate so far. But for the Frenchman, the first duel was the end of the line and 7th place on the grid was the starting position for his race.

Nato was the victim of Rowland's catch up

With an additional three places grid penalty from London, Rowland started the race in the middle of the field. While Nato kept everything under control at the front in the first phase of the race and battled for the top positions, Rowland also slowly worked his way forwards. The two came together on lap 17 and Rowland used the crowbar against Nato in turn 4. At the same time, the Frenchman left him hardly any room on the inside and the two collided. Nato slid into the wall with his rear end.

When teammates collide 😳

Sometimes it's the smallest of margins that makes all the difference@googlecloud #SãoPauloEPrix pic.twitter.com/lV9ViDTpXT

- Formula E (@FIAFormulaE) December 7, 2025

The damage caused by the accident was so severe that Nato had to retire. He parked his car on the same lap. The Frenchman was very frustrated afterwards when speaking to e-Formula.news: "I was doing a pretty solid race to finish minimum top five, I would say. Until we had a contact and I touched the wall and damaged my car, so I had to retire."

"A bit unlucky to finish the day like that"

In the end, second place was a good result for the whole team and a much better start to the season than last year. There, Rowland received a penalty for using too much power while in the lead, which took him out of the points race. But Rowland also had to admit that luck played a major role this year: "We got lucky today with the safety car and the full-course yellow, while the others were in Attack Mode."

Nato was more direct when it came to performance: "As you could see with both cars today, in terms of pace it was difficult. In the duels, P7 was my position, honestly we didn't have much more (to offer). I'm frustrated because as I said, in a day where honestly we were not so fast, we had a strong day. So it's a bit unlucky to finish the day like that on my side."

Nissan can now prepare for the next race until 10 January 2026. Then it will be back to Mexico City - a track that the team certainly has fond memories of: Rowland won there in 2025.