Formula E champion Oliver Rowland talks Ibiza trip, Max Verstappen friendship and being a girl dad

The Sun

4 days ago

OLIVER ROWLAND will treat his Nissan team to a knees up in Ibiza after the season finale in London.
The Barnsley-born 32-year-old was crowned Formula E world champion in Berlin last time out.
4
4
4
Rowland was reduced to tears on his final lap and his four-year-old daughter Harper said on the team radio: 'Daddy, you're the world champion!'
The British driver secured four wins and seven podiums with his team this season and it was his first championship in seven seasons in Formula E.
Rowland isn't one for the glitz and glamour of motor-sport, and is quiet off the track, preferring to do his talking in the car.
He has spent the past week celebrating his title by spending quality time with Harper and his wife Lauren.
They even took a trip to Legoland where Rowland couldn't help coach his daughter on the smaller cars, although she was too young to get her driver's license.
He said: "It was my daughter's birthday last Tuesday, so I spent the full day at Legoland celebrating I was absolutely knackered by the end of the day!
"She wasn't tall enough to get her driver's license but she went on the baby cars and I was asking her to get her head down like they do in go karts it was so funny."
Rowland has been known to celebrate his wins with a "few beers" this season, but he will be taking that up a notch with a team trip to Ibiza after this weekend's final race in London.
He added: "Since we're so close to City airport and all in London together I decided to invite all the engineers away with me.
"I just thought it was something different and nice to do for them. Let them have a nice two or three days.
Glamorous TikToker Bianca Bustamante gives behind-the-scenes look at a Formula E race week
"I wanted to appreciate all the work that the whole team does and it was a gesture to show my appreciation. We can have a bit of fun together."
Rowland has a presence in F1, and has been with Alpine for 10-years helping with testing.
He also enjoyed a short stint as a junior driver for Williams in 2018.
He still has a presence in the sport, mentoring F1 prospect and Red Bull junior driver, Arvid Lindblad.
And is good pals with four-time world champion Max Verstappen who wished him luck ahead of Berlin.
Rowland added: "He sent me a message on on Saturday night, telling me to score points and calm down a little bit,
"Then on Sunday, he told me, well done so yeah, it was really nice for him, because I was feeling pretty down after Saturday's mistake and he reached out.
"Just said 'yeah look, you got this, you're doing a good job'."
Rowland's most treasured congratulatory message remains from his daughter Harper though.
Being a 'girl dad' is his biggest achievement and wife Lauren is pregnant with baby number 2.
He added: "At the beginning I always wanted to have a boy but another girl like Harper would be super cute."