Round 16 saw Formula E say good-bye to Season 10 for the finale at the Excel Exhibition Centre where Pascal Wehrlein crossed the line in second, taking home the drivers championship while Oliver Rowland took to the top spot of the podium for his second win of the season. Parc Femme spoke to race winner Rowland and season 10 champion Wehrlein for their final words of the 2023-24 season.

Oliver Rowland

Alice: Congratulations on not only a great win but also a great way to end this phenomenal season for you, how happy are you with how this season has played out?

Rowland: I’m very happy, we never imagined we could be this competitive and get this many good results, so it’s incredible we managed to achieve that. I think today is the icing on the cake to be honest because it was a bittersweet moment, yesterday when I was in the top five to end up a DNF, being able to overcome Portland and accept that in my head was very difficult. I’m also happy that I’m back in full health because it was a little bit scary so to manage to do this is amazing and a big thanks to the team.

Alice: How was it experiencing that podium today with your daughter up there?

Rowland: It was amazing, when I thought of her on the in-lap I started crying. She just does something to me, in terms of emotion, that I cannot describe, that I’ve never had before. I will look back on those pictures for many years to come. 

Alice: We’re now going into the season break so what are we most looking forward to?

Rowland: A few beers, a bit of sun! I’m leaving for Dubai next week, we’re moving out there as a family so I’m trying to get sorted in August there, have a bit of off time and then get fully ready for next year. 

Pascal Wehrlein

Q: Great achievement, how are you feeling right now?

Wehrlein: Tired, it’s been a long weekend. A lot of work, a lot of preparation, [and] focus went into this weekend. It started after Portland, saying we have a chance to win this. The odds are not with us as we are 12 points down. I always believed in this, I always said to myself multiple times a day you can do this. Manifesting that win and really believing into that. Even though the last couple of races I was not so happy with my car, the balance struggled. The races didn’t go our way, it doesn’t matter coming here I said I want to win both races, we almost did. Today was super intense again, having both Jaguars in front of us [for the] first couple of laps and also Günther between us which you had to pass to put pressure on them. We executed this weekend perfectly. So happy for the team, I’m happier for the team than for myself because I know how much it means to everyone and how much work they put into it. I also put a lot of work into it, working on myself working together with the team to make us better. But for sure they’re having a harder time than me. This championship is for them and for my loved ones. Let’s celebrate now and focus soon on next season.

Q: Is there any point at the race where you didn’t think the championship was gonna go your way, obviously Cassidy fell behind taking both attack modes or were you always convinced the championship was gonna come your way?

Wehrlein: I never stopped believing in it until crossing the line. Even if things don’t go by plan, if it could get difficult for example like in Portland when in that second race the front wing damage and the front wing being under the car, I dropped to P18 midway through the race. For sure it would’ve been easier there to give up and to say today, it’s not our race but we came back from P18 to P4 and scored 12 important points. It’s never the end until it’s the end. 

Q: You talked about how it was a perfectly managed race for you, for the Jaguars it seemed to be the opposite, they were kind of struggling with what was going on there, how aware were you with what was going on with them during the race?

Wehrlein: No, I was not aware. I think in the end we all, in terms of strategy, really depend on the team. Sometimes as a driver with the overview, in the end, you’re the person in the car – you can also take the decisions you think will be the best for you. As example yesterday, i should’ve taken the attack mode before I passed Mitch and I said no, I’m gonna pass him first so I denied taking that attack mode and did what i though was right so I didn’t know, lets say, what chaos went on. We [are] all performing on a really really high level, sometimes it goes your way sometimes it doesn’t and I think this weekend has been favouring us.