Lola Yamaha ABT will enter its first ABB FIA Formula E World Championship season with one of the grid’s most exciting driver pairings, having confirmed Rookie Zane Maloney as the “Mr. Formula E” Lucas di Grassi teammate.
The team underscores its intent to shake up the status quo and drive the next generation of motorsport talent and technology by combining the driver with the most races in championship history and the only confirmed rookie.
Born and raised in Barbados, Maloney’s blossoming career has already seen him win the British Formula 4 Championship, finish runner-up in the FIA Formula 3 Championship, and be named FIA Rookie of the Year in 2022.
The 20-year-old is third in the FIA Formula 2 Championship and reserve driver for Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber. As a reserve and development driver for the Andretti team since 2023, Maloney already has Formula E experience and has completed several tests.
Maloney’s rise through motorsport’s junior ranks has been hugely impressive. He started his karting career on the 0.9km Bushy Park circuit in his native Barbados, where he competed against and beat juniors almost twice his age.
Honing his speed and astute race craft, he took the bold step to compete in European karting, where he faced grids nearly ten times the size he used to. Success in these categories led to Maloney competing in numerous junior formulas, including claiming the British F4 Championship and securing race wins in the Formula Regional European Championship and Formula 3.
The eleventh ABB FIA Formula E World Championship season kicks off in São Paulo on 7 December. All teams will gather in Valencia, Spain, for the only official test sessions in early November. Lola’s agreement to join the Formula E grid with ABT is set to be just one element of a joint venture between the two companies to explore far-reaching areas of sustainable motorsport.
For the upcoming season, they have formed a team using a powertrain developed by Lola and technical partner, Yamaha Motor Company, the first step in Lola’s strategy to re-establish itself as an industry leader focusing on three areas of electrification, hydrogen, and sustainable fuels and materials.