Photos are courtesy of Sergio Álvarez.
Interview with Zane Maloney, LOLA YAMAHA ABT FORMULA E TEAM
Q, FIA host: It was a challenging season for your rookie season last year. Can you just talk us through it?
ZM: It was tough coming in with a new team, new manufacturer, we knew it would be tough. Even this year we are not going to be where we want to be. In some rounds in qualifying we were able to be there or thereabouts, especially Lucas (Di Grassi) in qualifying Duels. When it came to the race and putting it together on a weekend in terms of software controls and stuff we’re behind where we want to be but the team has come a long way from last year. Last year we didn’t know if we were going to finish the first race and only one car did it. Whereas now, we had no reliability problems this week and the pace is much better as well. It was a learning year last year and this year it’s going to be another one for me and the team. Hopefully, the goal and the plan is to be ready from my side.
Q, FIA host: The elephant in the room is you’re still waiting to score your first points. We spoke to Mark Preston (Team Principal, LOLA YAMAHA ABT FORMULA E TEAM) and he said he’s been looking at the data and he’s been really encouraged by what he’s seen this week in Valencia and he doesn’t think it’s far away. How much of that is the kind of monkey off your back that you want to get rid of?
ZM: Not really, to be honest. I don’t think any racing driver’s goal is to score a point in any championship. Obviously last year many times points were there but then we had either a reliability problem or a penalty. So points were there. My goal is not to score points in Formula E in general. We’re in a place where we have to do everything perfectly to score points so that’s the goal: to do everything to the best of our ability with what we have next year and hopefully make a bit of a step forward, be in the points more often. But when I score my first point doesn’t really bother me.
Q, FIA host: What are your thoughts on the all-new GEN4 race car?
ZM: It’s looking positive. Of course coming from Formula 3 and Formula 2 where you’re driving quick cars with a lot of downforce and coming to Formula E now it’s a completely different world. In a positive way, I mean. You’re really having to work on your qualifying lap and in a race every time you go out on track. Obviously GEN4 is going towards more grip. Us drivers, the quicker we go, the better we feel and the more fun we have. As Sébastien (Sébastien Buemi) said, the tires are a very difficult thing to get your head around in Formula E. I think GEN4 will be a lot closer to what us drivers are used to before we come to Formula E. I’m looking forward to it. Obviously, all eyes are on next year to perform well and I’m sure that at some point throughout the year we’ll be switching our focus to GEN4.
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