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Three Promising Rookies Battle for Past Champion’s Formula E Seat
Highlights
- Lucas di Grassi to retire before the 2027 Gen4 season.
- Zane Maloney close to securing a new Lola-Yamaha contract.
- Robert Shwartzman is frontrunner for di Grassi’s vacant seat.
- Mitch Evans declined Lola-Yamaha offer, joined Opel instead.
- Driver lineup decision expected by end of June 2024.
- Testing for Gen4 car intensifies ahead of December season start.
Lola-Yamaha Abt is closing on Lucas di Grassi’s replacement as the Gen4 era nears, targeting a decision aligned with intensive summer testing.
Di Grassi will retire, creating a pivotal vacancy. The team wants the full lineup set early to accelerate development and integration work.
Zane Maloney is close to a renewed deal despite modest points. He is valued for recent form and his work on the Gen4 development program.
Deputy principal Frederic Espinos calls the choice time-critical, prioritizing a driver immediately available for dense test blocks.
With new regulations arriving, the team sees this year as ideal to blood a rookie and manage the adaptation curve early.
Espinos targets end of June to lock the Gen4 testing roster and finalise the lineup.
Lola-Yamaha Abt sounded out Mitch Evans, but he chose Opel under Stellantis. That refocused the shortlist on rookies and recent Formula 2 winners.
Robert Shwartzman leads. Without a race seat since Prema IndyCar folded, he held substantive talks with the team during the Berlin E-Prix weekend.
No contract is signed, but a firm offer is understood to be on the table, making Shwartzman favourite to partner Maloney for Gen4 starting December.
Victor Martins stays in the frame through Nissan links, having completed official rookie running at Jarama in March.
Nissan holds an option and could pair Martins with Oliver Rowland, leaving Norman Nato’s future uncertain beyond 2026.
Nissan retains an option on Martins after his Jarama rookie test, keeping a cross-team move in play.
Richard Verschoor impressed in a Lola test at Jarama, but McLaren development and ELMS duties restrict his availability.
Availability is decisive. Lola-Yamaha Abt wants drivers present for every Gen4 session to compress learning and stabilise operations.
Gen4 testing intensifies through June, with mileage prioritised for Maloney and evaluation candidates.
Di Grassi will stay embedded in development, providing reference feedback, while Maloney is slated for heavy mileage during June.
The organisation continues to restructure after the Lola and Abt split, making driver selection central to technical direction and culture.
Confirmation by the end of June would enable stable preparation for the new ruleset and season start, aligning with broader Formula E planning objectives.
Visual Summary
Open Seat
?
Robert
Shwartzman
Shwartzman
F1 & Indy veteran
Lead candidate
Lead candidate
⚡
Zane
Maloney
Maloney
Development ace
Set for renewal
Set for renewal
?
Victor
Martins
Martins
Nissan option
Could surprise
Could surprise
?️
Richard
Verschoor
Verschoor
Tested at Jarama
Le Mans focus
Le Mans focus
Now
Decision Point (End of June)
Lola-Yamaha Abt’s Gen4 Future Rests On One Seat
Shwartzman leads the charge
Maloney to stay, with rookies racing for a shot at Formula E’s next era.
Decision due by June’s end—testing stakes high!
Maloney to stay, with rookies racing for a shot at Formula E’s next era.
Decision due by June’s end—testing stakes high!
Zane Muniz writes across NASCAR, IndyCar, F1, IMSA, NHRA, and dirt-racing news. His breaking-news alerts and event previews ensure motorsport fans never miss a lap, drift, or drag-strip showdown.
