Lindblad has been coached by Rowland since a younger age – now the FE world champion is taking nuggets of information from his prodigy
Oliver Rowland turned the grasp… now he is again to being the apprentice. The defending Components E world champion has been the guiding gentle within the profession of F1 rookie Arvid Lindblad – and he now says he is the one studying from his novice.
Rowland, 34, is seeking to change into solely the second driver in historical past to efficiently defend the FE championship when he races on the season-ending London E-Prix this weekend. And he has saved himself on the prime of his sport whereas additionally attending each F1 race that hasn’t clashed with the FE calendar.
„Generally I be taught stuff off Arvid,“ Rowland says. „Possibly I am going to supply recommendation based mostly on my expertise and he may do one thing in another way, and it’d open my mind to new concepts. I feel we have identified one another lengthy sufficient now that he has an enormous quantity of respect for me as a driver.
„Nevertheless it’s not simply that, it is the expertise of find out how to cope with conditions, with engineers, with relationships and groups and precisely how to do this. Selecting and selecting your finest alternatives is the place I feel I carry plenty of worth as a lot as pure driving particulars.
„The best way the connection works with me and him is that I bounce concepts off him and he perhaps takes a few of them. We each be taught within the course of.
„I feel that is probably the most worth I get out of being there from a technical perspective, however in truth F1 is kind of far-off from what Components E at present has.“
Lindblad is now at motorsport’s prime desk in F1(Picture: Icon Sport by way of Getty Photographs)
Components E heads into a brand new stage of improvement subsequent season however Rowland can confidently say that he has dominated the Gen3 period. The brand new, quicker fourth era automobiles for the 2026/27 season imply that this weekend’s London E-Prix is the ultimate one on the ExCeL Centre, with the extra sizeable Manufacturers Hatch taking internet hosting duties subsequent summer season.
Rowland heads into this weekend fourth within the standings, solely 14 factors behind chief Jake Dennis. Eight totally different drivers might nonetheless win the title.
After claiming glory final 12 months, capping a lifetime of laborious work to get to that second, Rowland insists his motivation hasn’t worn off. He says: „Each time I put my helmet on, you may’t not have the wish to win. I do not really feel unmotivated in any approach, form or kind.
Rowland’s FE automotive in follow forward of the London E-Prix(Picture: LAT Photographs)
„I feel you possibly can argue that perhaps the extra tedious jobs away from the circuit – working, coaching, fitness center – can change into slightly bit harder, however I put that extra right down to age reasonably than success.
„I really feel like when you win one, there’s by no means that query anymore of will I ever? I have not essentially felt like I’ve had a goal on my again.
„In fact, there comes some expectation with the staff. I’ve simply been attempting to focus race by race, to be sincere, on maximising our place, maximising our efficiency.“
