SportsNews
Fenestraz: Ex-team-mate Rowland “on a par with Verstappen”
Sacha Fenestraz believes one of the reasons his time in Formula E came to a premature end is because he failed to match team-mate Oliver Rowland, who he claims “is easily on a par” with Max Verstappen.
The French-Argentine endured a difficult sophomore season in the all-electric championship for Nissan, claiming only five points finishes from 16 races and ending the campaign 17th in the drivers’ standings.
This was in stark contrast with Rowland, the Briton claiming two wins in Misano and London and being a championship challenger for much of the season on his return to Nissan.
Speaking to exclusively to Autosport’s sister site, Motorsport Latam, Fenestraz said several factors meant he was unable to showcase the same flashes of speed seen during his maiden season, including being up against Rowland, who he compared with three-time Formula 1 champion Verstappen.
“I came into the season saying to myself ‘I want to be the leader of the team, I want to beat him’ but I think it was unrealistic because we are talking about Rowland, who was in his seventh season in Formula E,” he said.
“For me it was only my second season, it’s a championship that if you look at it, all the drivers at the front are drivers who have been in Formula E for years, they have a lot of experience, they are also much older drivers.
“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.
“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.”
Oliver Rowland, Nissan Formula E Team, 3rd position, with team mates including Sacha Fenestraz, Nissan Formula E Team, celebrate at the podium ceremony
Photo by: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Images
Fenestraz also revealed he had been assured by Nissan’s management that he would be retained for the 2024/25 season at the start of August and see out the final year of a three-year contract.
But he claimed he found out through social media less than a month later he had been let go having been replaced by former team-mate Norman Natoand that “I didn’t take it well”.
Fenestraz had also turned down another team’s offer to drive in Formula E prior to being let go by Nissan but with testing for the new season commencing in less than a month and only two spots yet to be announced on the grid, both at ERT, he has had to turn his attention to other championships.
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This includes a return to Super Formula, where Fenestraz was prior to his two-year stint in Formula E after finishing runner-up in 2022, as well as the World Endurance Championship having been offered a works drive with an unnamed team.
“Fortunately, I have offers, there are opportunities out there,” said Fenestraz.
“The truth is that we have the possibility of returning to Japan with Nissan or Toyota.
“Also, now I received an offer for a double programme with WEC and IMSA, with a LMDH car, with a manufacturer.
“I have a meeting with my manager in London and from there we will say what to do and announce. I think it will be announced between now and November or December for sure, but the decision from my side will be very soon.”
Barcelona inched closer to the La Liga title with a 1-0 win over Mallorca on Tuesday which took them seven points clear of Real Madrid.
Spain international Dani Olmo slotted home to help Barca turn up the heat on second-placed champions Madrid, who visit Getafe on Wednesday. Hansi Flick’s side, aiming for a potential quadruple, outplayed the visitors but could not extend their lead at the Olympic stadium as goalkeeper Leo Roman made save after save.
With Saturday’s Copa del Rey final against rivals Real Madrid in mind, Flick rested several of his usual starters. The coach handed former teenage prodigy Ansu Fati his first start since October and deployed Hector Fort on the left of the defence, with Ferran Torres up front in place of injured top scorer Robert Lewandowski.
Barcelona created several chances in the first half and could hardly believe the score was goalless at the break. Gavi’s deflected shot hit the post, while Torres fired over after Olmo played him in. Fati also fired narrowly off target as the hosts turned the screw, and Roman saved from teenage star Lamine Yamal, before Fort’s shot was blocked as Mallorca rode their luck.
Now 22 and struggling for minutes at Barca, Fati drilled wide of the near post when he might have tested the increasingly busy Roman, before Mateu Morey blasted home at the other end but was offside. Barcelona left the pitch frustrated but swiftly took the lead at the start of the second half, with Olmo firing home after a long string of passes.
Fati came close to a second, but Roman palmed his drive to safety. Flick sent on Raphinha and Fermin Lopez to try and finish the job. Yamal should have added Barcelona’s second when the excellent Pedri sent him through, but Roman made yet another save. The goalkeeper showed good reflexes to thwart Eric Garcia and then clawed out Lopez’s deflected shot when it looked like it was dipping over his head for his 10th save of the night.
It was Roman’s first appearance in the league in 2025 for Mallorca, and although he and his side left without a point to show for it, another save to deny Lopez towards the end underlined his outstanding display. Mallorca appealed for a penalty in stoppage time when Garcia held Abdon Prats in the box, but their appeals were waved away. Barcelona have five games remaining in La Liga, including a mouthwatering Clasico showdown against Real Madrid on May 11.
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