News Summary
- Lola takes direct control of its Formula E team, ending ABT’s operational involvement.
- The team will compete as Lola Formula E Team, although Yamaha remains a technical partner.
- Gerry Hughes joins as deputy team principal, overseeing sporting operations and the team’s day-to-day activities.
Lola has confirmed a major restructuring of its Formula E operation ahead of the 2026/27 season, bringing the team under direct management at its Silverstone headquarters and dropping ABT and Yamaha from its official entrant name as the championship prepares for the introduction of Gen4 machinery.
The British manufacturer announced on Friday, October 16, that the organisation will compete as Lola Formula E Team, replacing the Lola Yamaha ABT identity used during its first two seasons in the electric world championship.
The change also confirms the appointment of Gerry Hughes as deputy team principal, with responsibility for sporting operations and the daily management of the racing organisation.
Although Yamaha will no longer feature in the team’s official name, the Japanese manufacturer remains an important technical partner in the development of Lola’s Gen4 powertrain.
Lola ends ABT’s operational role in Formula E
The restructuring represents a significant change in Lola’s approach to the championship.
When the historic British manufacturer returned to international single-seater competition in 2024, it relied on ABT Sportsline’s experience to operate its Formula E programme. The German organisation provided much of the infrastructure and expertise needed to establish the team.
Lola subsequently acquired the entrant licence, giving the company greater control over its long-term participation.
The decision to bring operations in-house was announced earlier in 2026, but the latest confirmation establishes the organisation’s new identity and leadership structure.
The team will now operate directly from Lola’s expanded Silverstone facilities, allowing the manufacturer to integrate its racing activities more closely with engineering and development programmes.
Lola chief executive Mishern Chetty explained that the restructuring is intended to improve efficiency while building expertise that can also support future motorsport projects.
The move comes as Formula E introduces the Gen4 regulations, which significantly increase performance and place greater demands on manufacturers’ technical resources.
As GRANDE PRÊMIO examined during early Gen4 testing, Lola was among the manufacturers working through technical challenges as Porsche and Stellantis demonstrated encouraging initial performance.
Gerry Hughes returns to Lola to lead racing operations
Hughes brings experience from Formula 1, Formula E, IndyCar and touring-car competition.
He previously served as team principal of the NIO Formula E operation between 2017 and 2019 and has worked with Lola on two previous occasions, including a role as head of Formula 1 engineering in 2009.
His appointment reunites him with team principal Mark Preston and technical director Peter McCool, colleagues with whom he has previously worked.
“Having worked for Lola on two previous occasions, the opportunity to re-join the prestigious British marque is something of a home coming for me,” Hughes said.
The British engineer also highlighted his familiarity with the organisation’s leadership and the technological changes taking place in Formula E.
Hughes said he was excited to return to the championship as it entered a new era, acknowledging how much the series had developed since his previous involvement.
His responsibilities will include coordinating race operations, overseeing sporting matters and helping establish the internal structure required for Lola to operate independently of ABT.
Yamaha remains central to Lola’s Gen4 project
The removal of Yamaha from the team’s official name does not signal the end of the technical partnership.
Lola confirmed that the Japanese manufacturer will continue supporting the development of its Gen4 powertrain, building on the collaboration established when the programme entered Formula E.
Chetty described Yamaha as an invaluable partner whose engineering resources had contributed to Lola’s progress.
He explained that the decision to change the team’s identity reflected the new operating structure rather than a change in the technical agreement.
The partnership remains important because Gen4 introduces more powerful electric machinery, placing increased emphasis on powertrain efficiency, energy management and reliability.
Lola finished the 2025/26 season 10th in the Teams’ Championship with 35 points, including Lucas di Grassi’s victory at the Shanghai E-Prix.
The result provided a significant milestone for the manufacturer’s return to international racing, although the team still faces a substantial challenge to become consistently competitive.
Lola has not yet announced its complete driver line-up for 2026/27.
The organisation has previously evaluated several candidates, including former Formula 2 drivers and competitors from other international championships, as it prepares for the transition to Gen4.
GRANDE PRÊMIO will continue following Lola’s development, driver announcements and the new Formula E regulations through its Formula E coverage.
