“Someone I watched when I was growing up”: Zane Maloney on becoming Oliver Rowland’s Nissan teammate | Formula – E News
Zane Maloney once watched Oliver Rowland from afar as the British driver built his career and won races. Now, the young Barbadian will line up alongside the Formula E World Champion as his teammate at Nissan, filling in Norman Nato’s seat, who left Formula E after a disappointing season. Maloney will join Rowland at the Japanese manufacturer for the 2026/27 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship after signing for the team ahead of the new season.
Zane Maloney watched Oliver Rowland growing up, now they are Nissan teammates
For the 22-year-old Zane Maloney, the move from Lola Yamaha ABT to Nissan brings more than just an opportunity to race for one of Formula E’s leading manufacturers. It will also give him the chance to learn from a driver he looked up to during his younger days.Maloney said Rowland was one of the drivers he followed while growing up, first during the Briton’s Formula 2 career and later in Formula E. “It’s also a great opportunity to be teammates with Oli. He’s a World Champion and someone I watched when I was growing up, first winning races in Formula 2 and then in Formula E. To be alongside him and learn from him will be really valuable,” he said.ID@undefined Caption not available.Maloney believes sharing the garage with the 34-year-old will help him as he enters an important stage of his Formula E career. The Nissan move will be Maloney’s first chance to drive for a top manufacturer in Formula E. He will enter his third season in the championship after gaining experience during his first two campaigns. In 2025/26, he recorded top-10 finishes in Sao Paulo, Monaco and Tokyo.Before Formula E, Maloney enjoyed a successful Formula 2 career, finishing on the podium 11 times across the 2023 and 2024 seasons. He also won two races and finished fourth in the championship in his final F2 season.“When I came into Formula E, the team was winning the championship with Oli, so it’s a great chance for me to now join a top manufacturer,” Maloney said.
Zane Maloney will be learning from a world champion
Oliver Rowland, meanwhile, brings plenty of experience to the new Nissan partnership. The British driver has been part of Nissan’s Formula E programme since the team’s early years. He won the Drivers’ Championship in Season 11 and has finished in the top four of the standings in every season since returning to Nissan in Season 10.Rowland also believes Maloney’s previous experience in Formula E and his junior racing record will help him settle quickly.“I’m looking forward to Zane joining the team,” Rowland said. “He’s had a great junior career and two years of experience in Formula E, which puts him in a good position to start Season 13 strongly,” he added.For Maloney, the new partnership will begin as Formula E enters the GEN4 era. It gives him a fresh start, a new team and the chance to work closely with a driver he once watched as a young racer.“GEN4 is a big opportunity for everyone to develop quickly, and I’ll be doing everything I can to prepare well and hit the ground running from the first race,” Maloney said.
