Newly crowned Formula E champion Oliver Rowland has revealed that he received advice from none other than Max Verstappen just before the decisive second race in Berlin. The British driver clinched the Formula E title last Sunday, with two races to go, something he had not expected after the disappointing race on Saturday. ‘Max sent me a message that evening and told me to keep my spirits up,’ Rowland reveals.
Although there are still two races to go in the current Formula E season, the world champion is already known. Oliver Rowland crossed the finish line in fourth place in Berlin last Sunday, thus securing the title. It is the first title for the Brit, and he could therefore use some advice just before the decisive race. He received it from experienced world champion Max Verstappen.
“Max sent me a message on Saturday evening and told me to keep my spirits up and score points,” the newly crowned Formula E champion reveals to Motorsport Week. “That meant a lot to me, because I was quite disappointed in myself at the time. It was very kind of him to send me a message, he is really a great guy.” Rowland was unable to finish the first race of the Formula E weekend in Berlin on Saturday due to damage sustained in the battle with Stoffel Vandoorne.
Comparison with Verstappen
Rowland was previously compared to Verstappen in the Formula E season by his former teammate Sacha Fenestraz. “Oliver is easily as good as Verstappen,” Fenestraz even claimed. However, the Formula E champion does not agree with this. “I’m not going to say I’m a kind of Max Verstappen, because that’s not entirely true,” Rowland continues. “But being compared to him is of course a great compliment. However, I don’t think I’m at his level.”
