Former Ferrari Formula 1 reserve driver Robert Shwartzman has secured a return to full-time racing after agreeing to join Lola for the 2027 Formula E season. The 26-year-old will become the team’s first confirmed driver for the championship’s new Gen4 era, while also undertaking a separate World Endurance Championship programme with Peugeot.
The announcement marks an important new chapter for Robert Shwartzman, who has not competed in a full racing programme during 2026. After gaining experience across Formula 3, Formula 2, Formula 1 development work, endurance racing and IndyCar, the former Ferrari Driver Academy member is preparing for one of the busiest seasons of his career, combining two international championships with very different technical and competitive demands.
Robert Shwartzman joins Lola for Formula E’s Gen4 era in 2027
Lola has selected Robert Shwartzman as its first driver for Formula E’s next generation of regulations, giving the Israeli-born racer an opportunity to establish himself in the all-electric world championship.
Although 2027 will represent his first full Formula E campaign, Shwartzman is not completely unfamiliar with the category. He has previously participated in rookie tests and free practice sessions, gaining valuable experience before securing his first permanent race seat.
His interest in Formula E has developed over several seasons. The former Ferrari junior had been linked with opportunities in the championship for some time and was seen with Lola in Berlin earlier in 2026.
Preparation for the new campaign is already progressing. Shwartzman has completed testing mileage in the Lola T004, working alongside the team’s engineering personnel as development continues ahead of the introduction of the Gen4 regulations.
The Huntingdon-based organisation is collaborating closely with Yamaha, which remains its technical partner for the new generation of Formula E powertrains. The Japanese manufacturer is contributing its engineering expertise as the two companies prepare their package for the 2027 championship.
For Shwartzman, joining the project at this stage provides an opportunity to contribute to the development process before the new car begins its competitive life.
Former Ferrari driver prepares for demanding Formula E and WEC schedule
Robert Shwartzman’s return to racing will not be limited to Formula E. The 26-year-old is also scheduled to represent Peugeot in the 2027 FIA World Endurance Championship, creating a double programme across two major international racing series.
Discussing his new agreement, Shwartzman expressed considerable excitement about finally securing a place on the Formula E grid. He explained that he had wanted to compete in the championship for a long time and regarded it as an exceptionally competitive and distinctive form of motorsport.
The former Ferrari driver also acknowledged that combining Formula E with his Peugeot commitments would make 2027 a demanding season, involving almost continuous racing activity. However, that prospect is particularly appealing after spending 2026 without a competitive racing programme. Shwartzman admitted that he had greatly missed racing and was enthusiastic about returning to the activity he enjoys most.
He also expressed gratitude towards everyone involved in making the opportunity possible, describing the prospect of competing in two world-class championships as an especially rewarding way to resume his career.
The association with Lola carries additional significance for the driver. Shwartzman emphasised the appeal of working with such a historic motorsport name as the team enters the Gen4 era.
Having already experienced the new machinery, he was particularly enthusiastic about the car’s performance and driving characteristics. He described the Gen4 package as extremely powerful and enjoyable to drive, adding that he was eager to begin the season and explore its limits across the upcoming calendar.
How Robert Shwartzman’s Ferrari F1 experience shaped his career
Before securing his latest opportunity, Robert Shwartzman established himself as one of the promising talents emerging through the Ferrari Driver Academy.
His junior single-seater career included winning the 2019 FIA Formula 3 Championship, a campaign in which he recorded three victories and ten podium finishes. He subsequently progressed to Formula 2, where he continued demonstrating his potential and finished runner-up in the 2021 championship.
Those performances helped establish his connection with Ferrari, where he undertook reserve and development responsibilities within the Formula 1 operation. His duties included supporting the Italian team’s technical work and gaining experience with Formula 1 machinery. During that period, Ferrari also provided opportunities for the young driver to participate in official Grand Prix practice sessions.
Shwartzman’s development role was an important part of his career, although a permanent Formula 1 race seat did not materialise. He had previously acknowledged the difficulties of securing a place on the Formula 1 grid despite his achievements in the junior categories.
His experience with electric racing machinery also dates back to his time associated with Maranello. In 2023, the Ferrari reserve driver was given an opportunity to participate in Formula E rookie testing, providing an early connection with the championship he will now enter as a full-time competitor.
His subsequent career has demonstrated considerable versatility. In 2024, Shwartzman secured his first World Endurance Championship victory at Lone Star Le Mans, adding endurance racing success to his achievements in single-seaters.
He then attracted attention in the United States by claiming pole position for the 2025 Indianapolis 500 during his rookie appearance at the prestigious event. That result represented another significant milestone following his departure from Ferrari and move into IndyCar with PREMA.
With experience across several different racing categories, Shwartzman now faces the challenge of transferring his abilities to Formula E while continuing his involvement in top-level endurance competition.
Lola team principal Mark Preston praises Robert Shwartzman’s adaptability
Lola team principal Mark Preston welcomed Robert Shwartzman’s arrival, highlighting the breadth of experience and achievements the former Ferrari junior brings to the organisation. Preston explained that the driver’s record across different championships demonstrated his capabilities and made him a promising addition to Lola’s Formula E project.
Although Shwartzman will enter the championship as a rookie, the team principal acknowledged that he will face a substantial learning process when competing against drivers who already have extensive Formula E experience.
However, Preston believes the 26-year-old’s ability to adapt quickly between different categories could become a significant advantage as the championship enters the Gen4 era. The Lola team principal also highlighted the positive contribution Shwartzman has already made during testing and development work.
According to Preston, the driver has demonstrated strong potential behind the wheel, integrated successfully into the organisation and provided valuable technical feedback as preparations continue for the 2027 season.
Such input will be particularly important as Lola and Yamaha work towards developing their new Formula E package ahead of its competitive debut.
A new opportunity after a year away from racing
Robert Shwartzman’s move to Lola represents another significant change in a career that has already taken him through several major motorsport championships.
From his early success in Formula 3 and Formula 2 to his Ferrari reserve duties, endurance racing victory and Indianapolis 500 pole position, the former Maranello prospect has repeatedly demonstrated his willingness to pursue opportunities outside the traditional Formula 1 pathway. The 2027 season will now present a different challenge. He must adapt to Formula E’s new Gen4 machinery while managing his commitments to Peugeot in the World Endurance Championship.
For Lola, securing a driver with experience across such varied categories provides an opportunity to combine fresh Formula E talent with considerable wider motorsport knowledge.
For Shwartzman, meanwhile, the agreement delivers something he has been missing throughout 2026: the chance to compete regularly again, this time across two major international championships.
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