Lola Formula E Team has finally completed the first piece of its driver line-up conundrum with the signing of a former Ferrari Formula 1 reserve driver.
The British squad has been preparing for the sport’s Gen4 era without a fixed team in place, with Lucas di Grassi retiring and Zane Maloney jumping ship to Nissan.
Its off-season has seen a number of rumours around potential signings, including Dan Ticktum, who eventually opted for a seat with the new Fortescue Zero Racing team.
But with just one week to go until pre-season testing at Jarama, Lola has got one half of its line-up locked in – a driver with plenty of experience but is new to the all-electric championship.
Robert Schwartzman fulfills ‘long time’ Formula E ambition with Lola drive
Robert Schwartzman, a one-time Indy 500 polesitter, Formula 3 Champion and Ferrari Academy alumni is the man who’s been chosen for the task.
The Israeli driver has been largely out of competition since PREMA’s exit from IndyCar, but has recently made a return to the World Endurance Championship, having raced in it previously back in 2024 for Ferrari.
With a deal with Peugeot secured, Schwartzman, like many FE drivers, will balance their endurance duties with it, which appears to be little hardship, as he revealed a seat in the championship has been a long-held ambition.
“I’m very excited to join the Formula E grid and start this new chapter of my career with Lola,” he said.
“Formula E is such a competitive, unique championship and one I’ve wanted to race in for a long time. Balancing my commitments between WEC and Formula E is going to make for a demanding, non-stop season but honestly, after not racing in 2026, I missed it so much.
“Being back to doing what I love most, especially with a double campaign across two world class programmes is an incredible feeling. I’m really grateful to everyone who worked behind the scenes to give me this opportunity.
“What makes joining this project so special is working with a legendary name like Lola as we enter the GEN4 era. The GEN4 car is an absolute beast and so much fun to drive, I really can’t wait to start the season and push it to the limit on what looks like a fantastic calendar.”
Lola’s early testing has given some encouraging signs, with the team having always been somewhat on the backfoot due to its entrance into FE coming midway through the Gen3 era.
With Schwartzman having been testing for Lola covertly for some time, it appears that there is plenty of preparation covered already, an encouraging sign for Team Principal Mark Preston.
“Robert’s results and experience speak for themselves, and we are so pleased to be welcoming him to Lola Formula E,” he said.
“While he enters the series as a rookie facing a genuine learning curve against established grid veterans, his proven ability to adapt quickly across different categories makes him a highly promising prospect for the GEN4 era.
“He has already shown strong potential behind the wheel and has integrated well into the team, providing invaluable feedback as we prepare for the 2027 season.”
READ MORE – Exclusive: Dan Ticktum delivers early verdict on Fortescue Zero Racing operation
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