Oliver Rowland delivered an impressive performance in the first race of the Jeddah E-Prix, maintaining a strong lead until the final moments despite ultimately finishing second to Maximilian Guenther.

Rowland built a substantial lead before the Pit Boost fast-charging stops, but energy management challenges and one fewer Attack Mode usage left him vulnerable in the closing stages. Guenther ultimately passed him at the Turn 14-15-16 chicane just before the finish line.

Despite losing the victory in the final corners, Rowland remained positive about his performance: "The car was good, we stuck to our strategy. I think it was a great race as a spectacle. I was able to push quite hard, had to be almost inch perfect every lap, and it came down to half a second."

The Nissan driver acknowledged that knowing Guenther's energy advantage might have led to a different strategic approach, particularly regarding his early gap-building efforts. "I was actually trying to keep the gap at some point, and that hurt me a little bit at the end," Rowland explained.

Energy management proved crucial in the final moments, with Rowland forced to lift in the last corner to ensure reaching the finish line. He followed Nissan's pre-race strategy, which anticipated more drivers would opt for a late pit stop strategy similar to his.

"We did everything right," Rowland concluded. "We just lacked five hundredths of energy in the last corner, and that's it."

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