Zane Maloney is taking the next step in his career by becoming a Formula E driver in the 2024-25 season.
The Bajan is joining the German team and partnering with Lucas Di Grassi, who should provide a very high benchmark over the season at Lola.
He is very experienced, having raced in Formula 1 and won the Formula E championship for Audi at the end of the 2016-17 season.
Maloney enjoyed a successful junior career, winning the British F4 Championship 2019, usurping Louis Foster and Luke Browning. His efforts in feeder series also saw Maloney join the Sauber Academy in January 2024 after one year with Red Bull.
He went on to race in Formula 2 this season and was very competitive, winning both races at the season opener in Bahrain.
Maloney explained during the press conference after day three of Formula E pre-season testing how Sauber reacted when he made the move to the all-electric series.
Zane Maloney explained Sauber were ‘supportive’ when he switched to Formula E
Maloney’s form drifted away throughout the season in Formula 2 despite the blistering start in Bahrain with the double victory.
He hasn’t returned to the top step of the podium since, although he has taken five podiums, most recently in the Feature Race at Monza.
The Lola driver was never heavily linked to any Formula 1 drive for next season, and Gabriel Bortoleto is stepping into Sauber despite initially being a McLaren junior.
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Maloney explained that Sauber wants to see him do well and that nothing has been confirmed with Sauber ahead of the new season.
He said: “It was a great opportunity, of course, to be with Sauber, we’re also with Andretti, and I gained a lot of experience this year, last year with Red Bull as well.
“Every team that I’ve worked with has helped me move forward. Of course, they were very supportive for me to be in a race seat.
“They want to see me perform well and have a great career. They didn’t stop me from taking this opportunity. Still sorting everything out for what I’m doing next year outside of Formula E, but fully focused on this, this new chapter with this team, Lola Yamaha Abt, and we’ll see what happens in the future with Sauber.”
Zane Maloney will need to adjust to a very different style of racing in Formula E
The racing in Formula E is very different from the style of battling on the track in the junior categories, which Maloney is used to.
Energy management is vital, and Lola’s new driver will have to adjust to it while learning many new circuits next season.
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The calendar mainly consists of street circuits. Although Maloney has experience racing in Monaco and Azerbaijan, he will need to get up to speed on new tracks.
The series is also becoming more attractive to Formula 1 drivers, including Zhou Guanyu, considering Formula E after losing his Sauber F1 seat.