News Summary
- Enzo Fittipaldi has reached an agreement to join Lola for the 2026/27 Formula E season.
- The 25-year-old finished runner-up in Indy NXT this year, collecting four victories before choosing a different career path.
- Fittipaldi is set to partner Robert Shwartzman, giving Brazil another representative in Formula E alongside Felipe Drugovich.
Enzo Fittipaldi is set to leave the IndyCar development ladder and move to Formula E after reaching an agreement with Lola for the 2026/27 season. The Brazilian’s decision comes just two months after he finished runner-up in Indy NXT, having established himself as one of the championship’s leading drivers.
Fittipaldi, the grandson of two-time Formula 1 world champion Emerson Fittipaldi, is expected to partner Robert Shwartzman, who was announced by Lola on Wednesday, November 11.
The move represents a significant change in direction for the 25-year-old, who had been targeting a promotion to IndyCar after competing in the United States throughout 2026. Instead, he is preparing to join Formula E at the beginning of its Gen4 era, with Lola introducing a new technical package developed alongside Yamaha.
Fittipaldi changes plans after impressive Indy NXT campaign
Fittipaldi’s move comes after one of the strongest seasons of his single-seater career.
Driving for HMD Motorsports, the Brazilian won four races in 2026, taking victories at Indianapolis, Detroit and both Mid-Ohio races. He also secured two pole positions and ten top-five finishes across the 17-race championship.
Fittipaldi finished the season with 556 points, 29 behind champion Nikita Johnson, and remained in title contention until the final round at Laguna Seca.
The results appeared to establish him as a strong candidate for promotion to IndyCar in 2027, particularly after his successful transition from European junior racing to the American development ladder.
However, his next opportunity will be in Formula E rather than IndyCar.
The Brazilian has previous experience with electric racing machinery, having participated in Formula E’s Berlin rookie test with Jaguar in 2024. He also tested IndyCar equipment and competed in endurance racing before joining Indy NXT.
His background includes three full Formula 2 seasons, two victories in the category and experience within the Ferrari Driver Academy.
Lola prepares new pairing with Shwartzman for Gen4
Fittipaldi’s expected arrival follows Lola’s confirmation of Robert Shwartzman as its first driver for the 2026/27 championship.
The Israeli driver, a former Ferrari Formula 1 reserve, will make his full-time Formula E debut while also competing for Peugeot in the World Endurance Championship.
Shwartzman previously raced in IndyCar with Prema, securing pole position for the 2025 Indianapolis 500 in his first appearance at the event.
Lola’s decision to bring together two drivers with substantial experience in Formula 2 and American single-seater racing represents a major change from its previous line-up.
The team is also undergoing an operational restructuring after ending its partnership with Abt, taking greater control of its Formula E programme.
The technical collaboration with Yamaha will continue into the Gen4 era, which introduces more powerful electric cars and permanent all-wheel drive.
Fittipaldi and Shwartzman will face the challenge of adapting to a new championship and technical regulations simultaneously.
Brazil set for two Formula E drivers in 2027
Fittipaldi’s arrival would give Brazil two full-time representatives on the Formula E grid.
Felipe Drugovich will continue with Andretti alongside Jake Dennis after completing his rookie season in the electric championship.
The American team has already revealed a new chrome livery for Drugovich and Dennis as it prepares for the introduction of Gen4 machinery.
Fittipaldi’s move also follows the retirement of Lucas di Grassi, who ended his Formula E career after competing in every season since the championship began in 2014.
The Brazilian contingent will therefore feature two drivers who previously competed in Formula 2 and pursued opportunities in other international categories before committing to Formula E.
Drugovich arrives with a season of experience, while Fittipaldi will need to learn the championship’s energy-management demands and race procedures.
Fittipaldi faces new challenge as Formula E calendar changes
The announcement comes during a period of significant changes for Formula E.
The championship recently postponed its Jeddah double-header from December 2026 to April 16–17, 2027, amid the conflict involving Iran, Israel and the United States.
The revised calendar means the season will begin in Mexico City on January 16, while the Sanya E-Prix has been moved forward to April 3.
The changes give teams additional time to prepare for the Gen4 era, although the technical transition remains substantial.
For Fittipaldi, the move to Lola offers a new opportunity to compete in a world championship after finishing second in Indy NXT.
It also marks another step in the expansion of Brazil’s presence in Formula E, with Drugovich and Fittipaldi set to represent the country for different teams in 2027.
GRANDE PRÊMIO is following preparations for the 2026/27 Formula E season and the introduction of the Gen4 regulations.
