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The Irish Sun
5 days ago
- Automotive
- The Irish Sun
Formula E champion Oliver Rowland talks Ibiza trip, Max Verstappen friendship and being a girl dad
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 Oliver Rowland celebrated his maiden Formula E win with four-year-old daughter Harper at Legoland Credit: Getty 4 Harper congratulated her dad on the team radio when he sealed the championship in Berlin Credit: Getty 4 Oliver Rowland won his maiden Formula E world title in Berlin Credit: Getty 4 Rowland plans to treat his Nissan team to a celebratory holiday in Ibiza Credit: Getty 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. Most read in Motorsport BEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERS 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 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. Read more on the Irish Sun 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."
Scottish Sun
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Scottish Sun
Formula E champion Oliver Rowland talks Ibiza trip, Max Verstappen friendship and being a girl dad
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) 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. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 Oliver Rowland celebrated his maiden Formula E win with four-year-old daughter Harper at Legoland Credit: Getty 4 Harper congratulated her dad on the team radio when he sealed the championship in Berlin Credit: Getty 4 Oliver Rowland won his maiden Formula E world title in Berlin Credit: Getty 4 Rowland plans to treat his Nissan team to a celebratory holiday in Ibiza Credit: Getty 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. BEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERS 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."
TimesLIVE
14-07-2025
- Automotive
- TimesLIVE
Oliver Rowland takes Formula E title with two races to spare
Nissan's Oliver Rowland won the Formula E title for the first time, with two races to spare, on Sunday and became the all-electric series' 10th different champion in 11 seasons. The Briton had needed to lead Pascal Wehrlein by 59 points after the second of two races in Berlin, the championship's penultimate weekend, and he did it by finishing fourth with his Porsche rival fading to 16th despite starting on pole. "Daddy, you're the world champion," four-year-old daughter Harper told the 32-year-old Barnsley-born Yorkshireman over the radio as the team celebrated. Rowland, who failed to score on Saturday and started eighth on Sunday after a five-place grid penalty, has 184 points with Wehrlein on 125. "I was thinking before the race not to have too much damage going into (the final round in) London," he said. "I can't believe it, I have no words. It's incredible. I was trying to play it safe but everybody was so aggressive, so at some point I was all in. Thankfully I stayed out of trouble." The final two races are on July 26 and 27. Sunday's race at Berlin's old Tempelhof airport was won by Jaguar's Nick Cassidy in a late surge, after starting 21st on the 22 car grid, to complete a weekend sweep after teammate Mitch Evans won on Saturday. Andretti's Jake Dennis was second and Jean-Eric Vergne third for DS Penske with Evans fifth and McLaren's Taylor Barnard sixth. Aston Martin F1 reserve Felipe Drugovich, making his Formula E debut at the weekend with Mahindra, scored his first points in seventh. It was the first time a Japanese manufacturer had won the championship and Rowland stamped his name on it from the start with wins in Mexico, Jeddah, Monaco and Tokyo. The team and manufacturers' championships are open to be won with Porsche leading Nissan in the two. Only one driver, France's Jean-Eric Vergne (2017-18 and 2018-19), has managed to win two titles since the series started in 2014. Rowland has said in the past that even a serial Formula One winner and champion such as Max Verstappen would struggle to dominate in the electric series, so closely-matched are the drivers and cars. Liberty Global-owned Formula E expects its cumulative television audience to surpass 500-million by the end of the season and has set a target of being the world's second biggest motorsport series by 2030. "To do that by fan base we have to topple MotoGP at just over 500-million fans," CEO Jeff Dodds told Reuters. "That's the next target we look to. That may become more challenging as they (MotoGP) are under the Liberty Media wing and being looked after by Liberty Media (who also own F1), who may invest a chunk more than they have in the past. "But that's our growth target. We're aiming to get by the same period to about 850-million cumulative TV audience. That's a pretty big jump."
Scottish Sun
18-05-2025
- Automotive
- Scottish Sun
Meet the Brit drivers of Formula E from Schumacher apprentice and AFC Wimbledon player to die-hard Aston Villa fan
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) OLIVER ROWLAND is the Barnsley-born racing driver lighting up Formula E with a win Tokyo to extend his championship lead. Meanwhile fellow Brit Dan Ticktum bagged his first ever podium with a third-place finish in the Japanese capital. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 Oliver Rowland is 77 points clear in the drivers' standings 4 Dan Ticktum has found his home in Formula E after spending time in Williams' and Red Bull's academies Formula E is a motor sport championship for electric cars, and is the only-sport certified net zero event. The championship features 16 races across 10 world cities, and became the first global sport to be certified with a net zero carbon footprint back in 2020. There are six British drivers in total in the series from one nearly making it with AFC Wimbledon, to a die-hard Aston Villa fan - SunSport gives you the low down. OLIVER ROWLAND Rowland is not wrong when says he likes to 'do his talking on the track' with the 32-year-old storming towards the title this season. He is leading the championship on a whopping 161 points, 77 points above second-place Antonio Felix Da Costa. Away from the track, the Nissan driver is quiet and reserved, favouring toasting his numerous wins with a 'few beers' with his close circle. He is a devoted dad to his daughter Harper who is often seen in the Nissan garage or on his lap when conducting interviews. In April 2017 Rowland was signed to the role of development driver to the Renault F1 Team. A year later Rowland was confirmed as Williams Martini Racing's official Junior Driver. DAN TICKTUM The 25-year-old Cupra Kiro driver from London could not be any more different than Rowland. Ticktum wears his heart on his sleeve and isn't afraid to speak his mind on the team radio or in post-race interviews. He has earned a bit of a reputation as the bad boy of motor sport over the years and went viral for a swear-laden rant in Jeddah last season - but it seems in Formula E he has found his home. Ticktum rubbed shoulders with Lando Norris during his karting days and spent time at both Williams' and Red Bull's academies. His future is looking bright in Formula E after bagging his first-ever podium in Tokyo. Ticktum was banned for a year from motor sport for ignoring a safety car to purposefully crash into a karting rival. 4 Sam Bird once turned down a shot with AFC Wimbledon to pursue a career in motor sport SAM BIRD Twickenham-born Bird, 38, is an experienced McLaren driver who was once seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher's apprentice. Sam joined up with Mercedes for four years in 2010 as a test driver, going to most of the races and doing a lot of sim work. As Mercedes returned to F1 in 2010 it coincided with Schumacher making a comeback of his own. Schumacher was Bird's childhood hero and the pair once even went sky-diving together. Bird isn't half bad at football and played for AFC Wimbledon as a youngster before turning them down for a career in motor sport. He has two dogs, Buddy and Bear, one is a cavapoo and the other a golden doodle and is in a relationship with former Love Island star Jess Impiazzi. JAKE HUGHES Brummie driver Hughes is a classic example of the saying you can take the boy out of Birmingham but not Birmingham out of the boy. The Maserati driver is a die-hard Aston Villa fan who chooses to bring porridge to the track for his brekky each morning. He loves cats and own two called Benny and Ollie, nicknamed Boo Boo and Bear, with his fiance Abby at their home. Hughes won the inaugural BRDC Formula 4 Championship and has won multiple races at Formula 3. TAYLOR BARNARD The baby-faced 20-year-old was born and raised in Norwich and is forging a name for himself with McLaren's Formula E team. At 19 years and 331 days, Barnard became the youngest competitive driver in the series' 10-year history. In his junior career, Barnard finished second to Mercedes' Andrea Kimi Antonelli in both the 2022 ADAC German Formula 4 Championship and 2023 Formula Regional Middle East Championship. 4 Jake Dennis is the most recent British FE champion JAKE DENNIS 29-year-old Dennis competes for Andretti and is the most recent British FE champion, winning the 2022-23 title. He was born in Nuneaton and debuted in karting at eight, winning the junior British Championship in 2010. In 2016, Dennis debuted in GP3, winning two races, achieving fourth place in the final standings with Charles Leclerc claiming the title. Dennis, who lives in Monaco, adores his pet chihuahua Billy with the pooch often seen accompanying him on a private jet to races.
The Irish Sun
18-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Irish Sun
Meet the Brit drivers of Formula E from Schumacher apprentice and AFC Wimbledon player to die-hard Aston Villa fan
OLIVER ROWLAND is the Barnsley-born racing driver lighting up Formula E with a win Tokyo to extend his championship lead. Meanwhile fellow Brit Dan Ticktum bagged his first ever podium with a third-place finish in the Japanese capital. 4 Oliver Rowland is 77 points clear in the drivers' standings 4 Dan Ticktum has found his home in Formula E after spending time in Williams' and Red Bull's academies Formula E is a motor sport championship for electric cars, and is the only-sport certified net zero event. The championship features 16 races across 10 world cities, and became the first global sport to be certified with a net zero carbon footprint back in 2020. There are six British drivers in total in the series from one nearly making it with AFC Wimbledon, to a die-hard Aston Villa fan - SunSport gives you the low down. OLIVER ROWLAND Rowland is not wrong when says he likes to 'do his talking on the track' with the 32-year-old storming towards the title this season. He is leading the championship on a whopping 161 points, 77 points above second-place Antonio Felix Da Costa. Away from the track, the Nissan driver is quiet and reserved, favouring toasting his numerous wins with a 'few beers' with his close circle. He is a devoted dad to his daughter Harper who is often seen in the Nissan garage or on his lap when conducting interviews. In April 2017 Rowland was signed to the role of development driver to the Renault F1 Team. Most read in Motorsport A year later Rowland was confirmed as Williams Martini Racing's official Junior Driver. DAN TICKTUM The 25-year-old Cupra Kiro driver from London could not be any more different than Rowland. Ticktum wears his heart on his sleeve and isn't afraid to speak his mind on the team radio or in post-race interviews. He has earned a bit of a reputation as the bad boy of motor sport over the years and went viral for a swear-laden rant in Jeddah last season - but it seems in Formula E he has found his home. Ticktum rubbed shoulders with Lando Norris during his karting days and spent time at both Williams' and Red Bull's academies. His future is looking bright in Formula E after bagging his first-ever podium in Tokyo. Ticktum was banned for a year from motor sport for ignoring a safety car to purposefully crash into a karting rival. 4 Sam Bird once turned down a shot with AFC Wimbledon to pursue a career in motor sport SAM BIRD Twickenham-born Bird, 38, is an experienced McLaren driver who was once seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher's apprentice. Sam joined up with Mercedes for four years in 2010 as a test driver, going to most of the races and doing a lot of sim work. As Mercedes returned to F1 in 2010 it coincided with Schumacher making a comeback of his own. Schumacher was Bird's childhood hero and the pair once even went sky-diving together. Bird isn't half bad at football and played for AFC Wimbledon as a youngster before turning them down for a career in motor sport. He has two dogs, Buddy and Bear, one is a cavapoo and the other a golden doodle and is in a relationship with former Love Island star Jess Impiazzi. JAKE HUGHES Brummie driver Hughes is a classic example of the saying you can take the boy out of Birmingham but not Birmingham out of the boy. The Maserati driver is a die-hard Aston Villa fan who chooses to bring porridge to the track for his brekky each morning. He loves cats and own two called Benny and Ollie, nicknamed Boo Boo and Bear, with his fiance Abby at their home. Hughes won the inaugural BRDC Formula 4 Championship and has won multiple races at Formula 3. TAYLOR BARNARD The baby-faced 20-year-old was born and raised in Norwich and is forging a name for himself with McLaren's Formula E team. At 19 years and 331 days, Barnard became the youngest competitive driver in the series' 10-year history. In his junior career, Barnard finished second to Mercedes' Andrea Kimi Antonelli in both the 2022 ADAC German Formula 4 Championship and 2023 Formula Regional Middle East Championship. 4 Jake Dennis is the most recent British FE champion JAKE DENNIS 29-year-old Dennis competes for Andretti and is the most recent British FE champion, winning the 2022-23 title. He was born in Nuneaton and debuted in karting at eight, winning the junior British Championship in 2010. Read more on the Irish Sun In 2016, Dennis debuted in GP3, winning two races, achieving fourth place in the final standings with Dennis, who lives in Monaco, adores his pet chihuahua Billy with the pooch often seen accompanying him on a private jet to races.
