Barbados' rising star, Zane Maloneymade an impressive statement during his Formula E debuts in São Paulo, showing his raw talent and adaptability despite a chaotic racing environment. Current for recently returned team Lola Yamaha ABTMaloney finished 12th out of 14 finishers after a difficult but promising curtain raiser which was finally won by Mitch Evans of Jaguar.
Although expectations were understandably modest for both Maloney and the British team, the young driver's performance offered glimmers of potential for the season ahead. Reflecting on his first outing, Maloney spoke about the confidence gained:
“Of course there weren't a lot of expectations going into this weekend, but I gained a lot of confidence from this race,” Maloney said. “It was important to finish and gain some good experiences for myself and the team.”
Penalty hampers potential points finish
At one point, Maloney's exceptional driving saw him place up to fifth placea remarkable achievement for a rookie making his debut with a brand new manufacturer. However, his running momentum was interrupted by a drive-through penalty for exceeding powerwhich dashed hopes of scoring points.
“I think we had a plan going into the race, a strategy. We executed it well,” Maloney explained.
“We were in the top five at one point with attack mode, which was nice. I honestly think there were some good points this weekend. The pit pass penalty came at the worst time and obviously ruined the race for us.
Despite this setback, Maloney was realistic, recognizing the steep learning curve for a new builder:
“It is expected that a new team will have these kinds of problems. We learned hundreds of things this weekend, and I am confident we will implement them in Mexico.”
Overcoming a Lack of Experience Before the Race
What made Maloney's performance all the more impressive was the revelation that he had never completed a full racing simulation before the event. His longest stint in the car during testing was limited to just five rounds.
“It’s the first time I’ve done more than five laps in a row pushing a Formula E car,” to admit Maloney. “To have the result we had and the pace we showed, I’m excited for the future.”
Looking to the Future: Mexico City and Beyond
While Maloney remains grounded, his debut suggests Lola Yamaha ABT has a foundation to build on. With valuable lessons learned, the team and Maloney are confident in their continued progress as the season unfolds.
“I'm not saying we're going to win races now—that's not going to happen—but we've learned so much,” he declared. “Once we implement these learnings, we will be in good shape to continue moving forward throughout the season.”
Maloney's adaptability, speed and resilience under pressure make him a driver to watch in his rookie season. With the next race scheduled for Mexico Cityall eyes will be on the young talent to see if he can turn his potential into tangible results.
