The Jeddah E-Prix weekend has started with a major setback for Lola Yamaha Abt, as both Lucas di Grassi and Zane Maloney have been slapped with 20-place grid penalties for the opening race.
The penalties stem from a breach of technical regulations, with the team breaking the mandatory seals on both E-Motors (MGU)—a move classified as an illegal component change under Formula E rules.
Stewards’ Decision: A Necessary But Costly Violation
According to the stewards’ report, Lola Yamaha Abt requested permission to break the seals due to persistent technical issues with its MGU across previous rounds. The team cited safety concerns and sought to inspect and resolve the problem, but under the strict Formula E rulebook, the act was still deemed a violation.
The stewards’ bulletin stated:
“The competitor faced several technical issues with its MGU during the past events of this season. Therefore, they asked for permission to break the seals of two MGUs to the Technical Delegate to perform safety checks and solve the issue.”
With only 22 cars on the grid, a full 20-place penalty per driver is impossible to enforce. Instead, additional in-race penalties will be applied:
- A drive-through penalty will be imposed for 1-10 unserved grid spots.
- If a driver is unable to drop 11 or more positions, a stop-and-go penalty will be issued instead.
A Brutal Blow for a Team Already Struggling
This latest setback compounds an already difficult start to the season for Lola Yamaha Abt.
- Zane Maloney managed P12 in Sao Paulo, followed by P15 in Mexico City.
- Lucas di Grassi has endured even worse luck, retiring from the season opener before finishing P20 in Mexico City.
Their Jeddah E-Prix weekend isn’t off to a promising start either. In FP1, Maloney finished 20th, while di Grassi was 21st, both struggling with setup issues.
Meanwhile, Tatiana Calderón, participating in the Rookie Free Practice Session, finished 10th out of 11 drivers.
Can Lola Yamaha Abt Recover?
With both drivers already struggling for pace, these penalties put Lola Yamaha Abt in an even deeper hole before lights out.
Now, Maloney and di Grassi must fight from the back of the pack, while also serving in-race penalties—a daunting challenge at the fast, technical Jeddah Corniche Circuit.
Will they be able to salvage anything from this nightmare start? The odds are stacked against them, but in Formula E, chaos can strike at any moment.
