Zane Maloney’s second Formula E race at the 2025 Berlin E-Prix came to a sudden end after he suffered a technical failure in the final laps. The Barbadian driver had been running in P15 before his car issue caused him to drop down the order, prompting a brief Full Course Yellow. Although he ultimately did not finish the race, he was classified as P18, having completed the majority of the distance.
Following the race, Maloney spoke to Pit Debrief and confirmed the reason behind his early exit.
“No, I had a technical failure with the car,” he stated, offering clarity on the incident which was quickly overshadowed by a dramatic last lap in which Nissan’s Oliver Rowland secured the championship title with a hard-fought P4 finish.
“Yeah, I just had a failure with something we need to see. I’m not sure what it is yet, but it was a decent race.”
Energy strategy and missed opportunities
Despite running just outside of the points in P11 for the majority of the race, Maloney reflected positively on the team’s performance, stating that they had done all they could. However, he acknowledged that strategic adjustments, particularly around energy usage, might have produced a stronger result.
“It was good. I think we did everything we could. I mean, it was clear when you look back now that the best strategy was to save at the back for the whole race. Yeah, obviously we were P11 for most of the race, still trying to save, but everyone in the back could just save that little bit more. And then when it’s time to go, they could go, whereas for us, we didn’t quite have the energy.”
Although the technical failure ended his race prematurely, Maloney believes that a top-ten finish had been within reach.
“I still think a point or two was possible without dropping out of the race.”
Learning curve for Lola Yamaha ABT
Maloney further reflected on Lola Yamaha ABT’s ongoing development in the series, particularly in energy-critical races such as Berlin’s Race 2. He acknowledged that while the team had shown competitive pace, they still faced a learning curve in terms of energy strategy.
“So, I mean, from my side and from the team side, I think obviously in these energy races, then it really shows our inexperience in terms of still developing the car. I think in terms of one lap pace and pace in general, we can be there or thereabouts, but when it comes to the energy peloton race, it’s a bit more difficult right now.”
He added, “So, I think we did a good job with what we had, and now it’s just to develop what we have.”
Championship standings and the road ahead
With Felipe Drugovich making his Formula E debut at Mahindra—filling in for Nyck de Vries, who was racing in the 6 Hours of São Paulo—and Sérgio Sette Câmara substituting for Norman Nato, also absent due to WEC commitments, the Berlin E-Prix featured several driver changes. This means that Maloney’s point-less weekend leaves him 23rd in the Drivers’ Championship standings, ahead of only DS Penske’s David Beckmann.
With only two rounds remaining in the season, time is running out for Maloney to score points in his rookie year. The competition in the midfield remains intense, and the path to the top ten is increasingly narrow. Nevertheless, Maloney remains resolute and optimistic, buoyed by the team’s visible progress and unwavering work ethic.
Steadfast motivation ahead of London
Looking ahead to the Formula E season finale in London, Maloney expressed confidence in the direction of the team, attributing their upward momentum to the dedication and persistence shown within the Lola Yamaha ABT garage.
“I have a lot of motivation in general. I think, of course, we’re getting stronger. It’s clear that we’re getting stronger.”
“I think, obviously, you have lucky moments during the season where you can get a result here and there, but the pace has been building up and we’re getting better. I think, obviously, from yesterday to today, we’ve gained massively in terms of performance, which is very good from the team, and it shows that everyone’s working very hard. They were probably the last ones here last night.”
He concluded with a note of perseverance: “So, a lot of motivation, but yeah, it’s going to take some time for sure.”
