Lola Formula E team signs Shwartzman as first driver for 2027 season

Lola Formula E team has announced Robert Shwartzman as its first driver for the upcoming season.

The 2025 Indianapolis 500 polesitter joins the team at a time it is looking for a whole new driver line-up following Lucas di Grassi's retirement and Zane Maloney's surprise off-season switch to Nissan. As many have before him, Shwartzman will dovetail his Formula E program with a World Endurance Championship drive, having joined Peugeot ahead of next season.

“I’m very excited to join the Formula E grid and start this new chapter of my career with Lola,” said Shwartzman. “Formula E is such a competitive, unique championship and one I’ve wanted to race in for a long time. 

“Balancing my commitments between WEC and Formula E is going to make for a demanding, non-stop season, but honestly, after not racing in 2026, I missed it so much. Being back to doing what I love most, especially with a double campaign across two world class programs is an incredible feeling. I’m really grateful to everyone who worked behind the scenes to give me this opportunity.

“What makes joining this project so special is working with a legendary name like Lola as we enter the GEN4 era. The GEN4 car is an absolute beast and so much fun to drive. I really can’t wait to start the season and push it to the limit on what looks like a fantastic calendar”.

Shwartzman’s resume is an impressive one, with a 2019 Formula 3 title and runner-up spot in Formula 2 two years later to his name. 

He was a member of Ferrari's Driver Academy, which afforded him free practice and test outings with the Scuderia as well as customer teams Haas and Sauber, and later became Ferrari's F1 reserve and raced its satellite Hypercar entry in the World Endurance Championship – which yielded a victory at the Lone Star Le Mans in 2024 – before ultimately leaving Ferrari entirely to pursue IndyCar with PREMA Racing in 2025.

While it will signal Shwartzman's maiden season in Formula E, he isn't a total stranger to the series, having tested multiple times for the since-departed DS Penske team, including at the 2023 and '24 Berlin rookie tests. Ahead of the confirmation that he'd secured a race seat, he has already been testing the company's new T004 race car, working closely with the team and its technical partner Yamaha to develop Lola’s GEN4 package.

“Robert’s results and experience speak for themselves, and we are so pleased to be welcoming him to Lola Formula E,” said Lola team principal Mark Preston. “While he enters the series as a rookie facing a genuine learning curve against established grid veterans, his proven ability to adapt quickly across different categories makes him a highly promising prospect for the GEN4 era. 

“He has already shown strong potential behind the wheel and has integrated well into the team, providing invaluable feedback as we prepare for the 2027 Season.”