Why Formula E has a rapidly developing Max Verstappen-like situation

Formula E has a rapidly developing Max Verstappen-like situation on its hands, and it's all being caused by one individual: Oliver Rowland. 

The FE championship leader is dominating the all-electric series like never seen before in a Verstappen-like manner. All of a sudden, comments from former team-mate Sacha Fenestraz are looking that much more understandable.

"And me, at 24 years old [at the time], I don't have the same experience as a driver like him and also, Oliver at his best is easily on a par with Verstappen," Fenestraz told Motorsport.com last year.

"He's very good friends with Verstappen, and this year Verstappen was telling Oliver that it's a pity he's not in Formula 1 because he'd be overshadowing him, so people inside motorsport know the potential he has."

Fenestraz's comments have aged liked the most perfect bottle of wine, with Rowland looking set to seal a maiden FE title in a matter of weeks. 

The Nissan driver boasts a staggering 77-point lead over reigning world champion Pascal Wehrlein, following a second place and a victory in the Tokyo double-header. 

After nine rounds and with seven remaining, Rowland sits on 161 points, just 68 short of matching the record for most points claimed in a season – Jake Dennis holds the record of 229 from Season 9.

It is becoming increasingly unlikely that the title will be decided in the season-ending London double-header, and more likely in Berlin mid-July. 

However, based on his current form and his rivals continuing to falter, the title could be sealed potentially as soon as Jakarta next month. To win the title in the Indonesian capital, Rowland needs a 116-point lead come the end of the event. 

Verstappen similarity

Three pole positions, seven podiums from nine races – four of which in the form of victory – it is unprecedented form Rowland has, who has just clicked with in Gen3 Evo and Nissan's strong package. 

Almost everything has been thrown at him this season, but virtually nothing has disrupted his form. Miami is the sole exception, whilst a victory would have been claimed in São Paulo if not for a technical issue.

What the 32-year-old is currently doing is reminiscent of Verstappen from the last couple of seasons, just total domination. Whilst nothing is guaranteed in FE, it would require perhaps the biggest shock in the category's history for Rowland not to win the title.

It would also be a safe bet to back him to become just the second two-time world champion. Whilst that could be deemed as looking too far ahead, it should be noted that Gen3 Evo remains next season. 

Rowland entering next season as the favourite feels likely, with Nissan set to remain towards the top of the pecking order, if not at the top, until at least Gen4 at the end of 2026.

Crucially, there is another factor which Rowland has in common to Red Bull's four-time world champion, an underperforming team-mate.

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Lack of team-mate support

Just like Verstappen, Rowland is currently carrying his team solely in the teams' and manufacturers' championships. 

Norman Nato, despite having shown strong pace at times in qualifying, has scored just 11 points this season. He sits 19th in the drivers' standings, and is the reason why Porsche are within 15 points of the Japanese outfit. 

Luck has not gone Nato's way at times, in particular in Miami where he would have claimed a much-needed victory had it not been for him being a victim of the attack mode chaos. 

Four duel appearances, on paper, is respectable, but is quickly highlighted as an additional problem with Rowland having only not featured in the duels once. 

In addition to his three pole positions, Rowland has started from the front row six times. It has allowed him to avoid the mid-pack chaos, and often control the peloton races. 

This is an issue for Nissan, as it needs Nato to step up to not only help Rowland seal the title as early as possible, but be in place for the outfit should the championship leader endure a bad race.

Nissan faced the same problem last year with Fenestraz, who was comfortably adrift of Rowland on a regular basis. Like Red Bull, Nissan is still searching for the ideal second driver.

At a time where Nissan is making 11,000 staff redundant (15% of its workforce in total the last year) and shutting seven factories, securing all three titles would mean more to Nissan than perhaps any manufacturer on the grid. 

It has worked tirelessly to get to where it is this season, and with a driver dominating in a Verstappen-like fashion, it can achieve what it set out to when it took over from Renault in Season 5.