In an exclusive interview with Motorsport Week, the newest recruit to FIA Formula E, Zane Maloney, speaks about the opportunity the series is giving him, along with insights into his preparations for Season 11.
Maloney was, up until Wednesday morning, a man in the midst of an FIA Formula 2 title shot, and most definitely a sought-after talent.
Now officially bagged by Formula E’s most nascent manufacturer in conjunction with one of its most longstanding teams, he comes to the grid bursting with enthusiasm.
He was aware that interest in his services had been omnipresent for some time, but it was until more recent weeks that wheels were set in motion by Lola to secure his signature.
“I mean, everything moves very quickly,” he said.
“I think, firstly, that’s what happens when it’s a good opportunity and a good deal, so everything moved along very quickly.
“I think the first I really heard of it was when, when Lola announced that they were coming into Formula E.
“Of course from the outside, I was the same as everyone. I was intrigued by it. And then it was not until a month or two ago that things started to get a bit more serious, and then the conversations started to be had, of course.
“For me, it was, it was a very, very great, amazing opportunity to jump on board, so from my side, it didn’t take too many conversations. Of course, all the contractual stuff takes a bit longer, but that was also easy in that sense.”
Like fellow new FE entrant Taylor Barnard, Maloney has made the sacrifice of prematurely ending his F2 season, and in the Bajan’s case, it is even more pertinent, given that he is mathematically still in the title race.
The Qatar weekend will be his final one in F2, and will hotfoot it to São Paulo for round one of the FE championship the weekend after.
Despite wanting to finish his campaign in F2, Maloney was only too aware of the importance of the chance he has been given by the Lola outfit.
“In one way, I wanted to win Formula 2 this year,” he said. “I wanted to give myself the best chance to do that, but I live my life by the day and I understand the opportunity that I have for next year, and when I think about that opportunity, everything in the present moment kind of gets forgotten about to some extent.
“So, of course, I know that coming to Formula E is a big opportunity for me and something amazing to show my skills in a world championship.
“I don’t really focus too much on the negative side of certain things. I try to focus on the positives and I only see a positive thing coming into next year.”
‘Formula E is very well recognised’
Given that Maloney is following Barnard from the highest Formula 1 feeder series into Formula E, it might suggest that Formula E, only in its 10th year of existence, has already gained a strong reputation amongst racing drivers as a legitimate category of racing on its own. Maloney agrees.
“Yeah, for sure. I think it’s cool to see that drivers are coming from F2. I think it’s interesting in terms of in motorsports in general.
“In F1, IndyCar, Formula E, WEC as well, there’s not many seats that become available every year. There are a lot more drivers than there are seats, which makes it very difficult and I think Formula E has always been a series that has amazing drivers, amazing manufacturers, teams. And of course, the media sees different motorsport genres a bit differently.
“But within the group of motorsports, Formula E is very well recognized, and every driver that goes into it knows how difficult it is to perform, so from that side of things, I don’t really focus too much on anything other than driving a race car as fast as I can with the opportunity that I’m given.
“Yeah, I mean, obviously, the media sees things in different ways. But from my side, Formula E, F1, IndyCar, WEC, all amazing drivers and teams.”
Despite being officially a rookie entrant, Maloney is no stranger to FE, having partaken in several rookie tests over Seasons 9 and 10 with Andretti, giving him some much-needed and ample track time.
Asked if this will make him feel less of a rookie in that respect, Maloney is inclined to think so.
“To some extent, yes. It’s funny because through my whole career, this is the first year, 2024, that I’ve not been a rookie in a championship. From F4 all the way to F2, I’ve been a rookie each time so I’m used to learning something new and trying to develop myself as quickly as possible with a certain car.
“Of course, I know that Formula E is a bit more difficult in that sense, with the energy and energy management, and you’re working with so many different people to do the job.
“But I have some experience with Andretti, also with Sauber and Formula 1, working with a lot of people. So I think I’m ready for it, I know I’m ready for it, and now it’s just time to learn as quickly as possible and learn from the team and try to develop the car with the team as quickly as possible.”
New racing style ‘will be interesting’
An aspect of Formula E that Maloney will have to get to grips with are the breadth of circuits, and the different styles of racing they will produce. From the more traditional street circuits that will tests the teams and their performance, to the open circuits that will promote peloton style races, a unique byproduct of Formula E’s current regulations.
“That will be interesting,” Maloney says.
“Of course, going to London with the half-indoor, half-outdoor circuit is going to be a cool experience as well, which I’ve never been to because it clashed with F2 both of the years that I was doing reserve for Formula E.
“I’m looking forward to every circuit, to be honest. I think I first need to do a race to understand these types of races and watching it is cool to see. But being inside of it and actually driving in them is going to be a different experience so I need to get up to speed with that.
“It looks like fun racing, Formula E is always very entertaining. A lot of overtakes, a lot of side-by-side racing and I’m just looking forward to getting qualifying good every single round from my side.
“And then the racing side of things will take a bit longer as a rookie to get used to. But yeah, as we said, Lucas is very experienced and he’ll help me on that. I’m just looking forward to the season, to be honest.”
It is clear that Maloney exudes enthusiasm from every pore and regardless of where his Formula E adventure takes him, his commitment will never be questioned.
