“He’s on par with Max Verstappen”: Formula E star receives big praise from former teammate

Sacha Fenestraz has compared his former Formula E teammate Oliver Rowland to reigning F1 champion Max Verstappen, hinting it to be one of the reasons why he couldn't match his potential at Nissan.

Fenestraz made his full-time Formula E debut in 2023 with Nissan and finished the season in 16th place. Oliver Rowland joined him as teammate this year, and while Fenestraz expected to be the number one driver and finish the season ahead of his new teammate, the difference in experience did not play to his side.

Rowland instantly proved to be miles ahead of his teammate. With two wins and multiple top-10 performances, he finished last season in fourth place, compared to his teammate's 17th.

Fenestraz explained that Rowland had vast experience in the all-electric series, while it was only his second season. He also mentioned that the latter is comparable to three-time F1 champion, Max 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 told Motorsport Latam (via Autosport).

"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."

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Max Verstappen told Oliver Rowland that he would overshadow him in F1, Fenestraz claims

Continuing to talk about his former's teammate excellence, Sacha Fenestraz revealed that Oliver Rowland is good friends with Max Verstappen. He also said that the Red Bull Racing driver told Rowland that it was a "pity" for him to not be racing in F1.

"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."

Max Verstappen gradually became the face of Formula 1 after defeating Lewis Hamilton in a hard-fought title race. Since then, he has continued to dominate the grid with his excellent driving with Red Bull Racing. While the team looks weaker this season, the Dutchman is still leading the championship and is looking to win his fourth consecutive title. Meanwhile, Red Bull has lost the lead to McLaren in the constructors' standings.