Lola Yamaha ABT celebrated a landmark moment in its Formula E journey as Lucas di Grassi produced a remarkable charge from 19th on the grid to secure the team’s first victory in the championship.
The Brazilian mastered a race of changing conditions in Shanghai, combining a bold dry set-up strategy with strong energy management and a decisive late attack. The victory was di Grassi’s 15th in Formula E and the first for Lola Yamaha ABT since entering the series.
From the Back of the Grid to Victory
Starting from P19 on a wet circuit, di Grassi initially remained towards the rear of the field as the team committed to a dry set-up.
The gamble required patience. Di Grassi focused on conserving energy during the wet opening phase while waiting for conditions to move in his favour.
As the circuit began to dry, the strategy came alive.
With improving pace, di Grassi worked his way through the field before taking a late Attack Mode from P15. He continued his charge towards the front and climbed into third place as the race entered its final stages.
A full course yellow then created another opportunity. After activating his second Attack Mode, di Grassi attacked Joel Eriksson at the hairpin before setting his sights on race leader Jean-Éric Vergne.
The decisive move came on the final lap.
Di Grassi swept around the outside of Vergne at Turn 1 to take the lead, completing an extraordinary recovery from the back of the grid before crossing the finish line to claim a historic victory.
“An amazing day here in Shanghai. We achieved the first ever victory for Lola Yamaha ABT in a very difficult race starting from P19,” said di Grassi.
“Half of the race was wet and half dry and there were many moments I thought I was not going to make it. I kept believing and pushing until the end, managing to take the lead on the final lap and win the race.”
Mixed Emotions for Lola Yamaha ABT
While di Grassi celebrated victory, the race ended in disappointment for teammate Zane Maloney.
Maloney had shown strong pace throughout the weekend and secured eighth place on the starting grid. He made progress early in the race and remained competitive while managing energy and tyre performance.
However, a suspension failure in the closing stages brought his race to an abrupt end. Maloney stopped on the start-finish straight, triggering the full course yellow that played a key role in the dramatic final phase of the race.
Despite the retirement, the team took encouragement from Maloney’s overall performance across the Shanghai weekend.
“I think we can be very proud of the weekend as a whole, being up there in every session and maximising performance,” said Maloney. “We now look forward to Tokyo and Yamaha’s home race.”
A Landmark Result for the Team
For Team Principal Mark Preston, the victory represented the reward for the work behind Lola Yamaha ABT’s Formula E programme.
“To get the first victory for Lola Yamaha ABT in Formula E here in Shanghai was a fantastic moment for the team and a result of the hard work every single person has been putting in,” Preston said.
He also highlighted the strategic decision to start di Grassi with a dry set-up, a gamble that ultimately transformed the race.
“The team made a bold strategy decision to start with a dry set-up and he drove an excellent race, enabling him to claim the top step on the podium.”
Tokyo Next for Formula E
The ABB FIA Formula E World Championship continues in Tokyo on July 25 and 26.
The next double-header will carry added significance for Lola Yamaha ABT as the team heads to the home race of partner Yamaha with momentum from its breakthrough Formula E victory in Shanghai.
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