Sacha Fenestraz believes one of many causes his time in Method E got here to a untimely finish is as a result of he didn’t match team-mate Oliver Rowland, who he claims “is well on a par” with Max Verstappen.
The French-Argentine endured a troublesome sophomore season within the all-electric championship for Nissan, claiming solely 5 factors finishes from 16 races and ending the marketing campaign seventeenth within the drivers’ standings.
This was in stark distinction with Rowland, the Briton claiming two wins in Misano and London and being a championship challenger for a lot of the season on his return to Nissan.
Chatting with solely to Autosport’s sister web site, Motorsport Latam, Fenestraz stated a number of components meant he was unable to showcase the identical flashes of pace seen throughout his maiden season, together with being up in opposition to Rowland, who he in contrast with three-time Method 1 champion Verstappen.
“I got here into the season saying to myself ‘I need to be the chief of the crew, I need to beat him’ however I feel it was unrealistic as a result of we’re speaking about Rowland, who was in his seventh season in Method E,” he stated.
“For me it was solely my second season, it is a championship that if you happen to have a look at it, all of the drivers on the entrance are drivers who’ve been in Method E for years, they’ve plenty of expertise, they’re additionally a lot older drivers.
“And me, at 24 years outdated [at the time], I haven’t got the identical expertise as a driver like him and likewise, Oliver at his finest is well on a par with Verstappen.
“He is superb buddies with Verstappen and this 12 months Verstappen was telling Oliver that it is a pity he is not in Method 1 as a result of he’d be overshadowing him, so individuals inside motorsport know the potential he has.”
Oliver Rowland, Nissan Method E Crew, third place, with crew mates together with Sacha Fenestraz, Nissan Method E Crew, have a good time on the podium ceremony
Photograph by: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Photographs
Fenestraz additionally revealed he had been assured by Nissan’s administration that he could be retained for the 2024/25 season firstly of August and see out the ultimate 12 months of a three-year contract.
However he claimed he came upon by means of social media lower than a month later he had been let go having been replaced by former team-mate Norman Nato and that “I did not take it nicely”.
Fenestraz had additionally turned down one other crew’s supply to drive in Method E previous to being let go by Nissan however with testing for the brand new season commencing in lower than a month and solely two spots but to be introduced on the grid, each at ERT, he has needed to flip his consideration to different championships.
This features a return to Tremendous Method, the place Fenestraz was previous to his two-year stint in Method E after ending runner-up in 2022, in addition to the World Endurance Championship having been supplied a works drive with an unnamed crew.
“Luckily, I’ve affords, there are alternatives on the market,” stated Fenestraz.
“The reality is that now we have the opportunity of returning to Japan with Nissan or Toyota.
“Additionally, now I obtained a suggestion for a double programme with WEC and IMSA, with a LMDH automobile, with a producer.
“I’ve a gathering with my supervisor in London and from there we are going to say what to do and announce. I feel it will likely be introduced between now and November or December for certain, however the resolution from my facet can be very quickly.”