Lola Yamaha ABT ended the demanding Monaco E-Prix with a landmark achievement after scoring points in both races of the Formula E double header for the first time in the team’s history. On the iconic streets, the team overcame crashes, penalties and a lack of qualifying pace. This saw their weekend ending with valuable championship points and growing confidence ahead of the next round in China. While outright pace remained elusive throughout the weekend, disciplined race management and sharp strategic calls enabled both Lucas di Grassi and Zane Maloney to climb up several places.
Difficult Start on Saturday
The weekend began in dramatic fashion for Maloney, whose second practice session ended after a technical problem affected his brakes approaching Casino Square. There, the Barbadian driver hit the barriers. The resulting damage left the team in a small race against time to prepare the car for the E-Prix later that day. Team Principal Mark Preston commended the mechanics for their rapid repair work following Maloney’s crash and acknowledged the mixed emotions surrounding Saturday’s result.
Although the mechanics succeeded in rebuilding the car in time for the race, Maloney was unable to participate in qualifying and was forced to start from 20th on the grid. Teammate Di Grassi also endured a difficult Saturday qualifying session. As a result, he had to line up in P17 after qualifying in P18.
Strategy Delivers Valuable Points
In a chaotic and tactical Saturday race, Lola Yamaha ABT concentrated initially on energy conservation for both cars. Thus, Di Grassi executed his race effectively after taking ATTACK MODE during the closing stages before completing his PIT BOOST stop. The Brazilian crossed the finish line in P11, but post-race penalties put him in eighth place.
This saw the Brazilian secure four championship points. Reflecting on the recovery drive, Di Grassi admitted the day had begun poorly but praised the team’s execution in the race itself. The Formula E driver explained the team was able to take satisfaction from achieving its goal of scoring points despite the challenging circumstances.
Maloney’s afternoon proved more frustrating. After taking PIT BOOST at the earliest opportunity and activating ATTACK MODE immediately afterwards, he appeared capable of moving into the points. However, a drive-through penalty for a state-of-charge infringement ultimately relegated him to 13th. He highlighted the impact of losing valuable running time in Monaco, where confidence and track familiarity are crucial.
Nevertheless, the young driver felt the team had extracted the maximum possible result from the situation. Although encouraged by the strategic execution that delivered points through Di Grassi, Preston admitted the team was disappointed not to convert Maloney’s strong race into a Top 10 finish after the penalty.
Double Points Finish Caps An Encouraging Weekend
Sunday presented fresh challenges as both drivers again struggled in qualifying. Di Grassi and Maloney each finished 10th in their respective groups, leaving them to start near the back of the grid in 19th and 20th positions. Despite the setback, the race once again demonstrated the team’s improving operational sharpness.
In the race, Di Grassi made early gains after activating four minutes of ATTACK MODE on Lap 8. Meanwhile, Maloney adopted a more energy-saving approach before deploying six minutes of ATTACK MODE later in the race. For a short period, the pair ran nose-to-tail while progressing steadily through the order.
A Full Course Yellow interrupted their momentum and reduced the benefit of the additional power, but the team continued to push forward. In the closing stages, penalties for other teams ahead allowed Di Grassi to secure another points finish in P9. His teammate, Maloney, ended the Sunday race in P10 to claim his first point of the weekend.
Signs of Progress for Lola Yamaha ABT
The Brazilian driver described the weekend as an important milestone for the team, emphasising that consistent points finishes represented meaningful progress even if podium contention remains the long-term ambition. Maloney echoed that sentiment, praising the team’s race strategy and hard work despite ongoing struggles for outright pace. He also revealed a settings issue had limited his effectiveness while running at full ATTACK MODE power, preventing further progress through the field.
Preston honoured the team’s first double-points finish in Formula E by thanking the entire team for responding strongly after a difficult qualifying performance. It might not have been a tonne of points, but it proved the team’s ability to bring both cars home with some.
The Monaco weekend ultimately represented a significant step forward for the young team. Across two demanding races on one of this motorsport’s tightest circuits, the team demonstrated resilience and strategic maturity. Having secured points in both races of a double-header for the first time, too, Lola Yamaha ABT now heads to Sanya, China, for the next round of the Formula E season with renewed optimism and evidence that its upward trajectory is continuing.