Here is the thing, motorsport has a funny way of bringing people back home. Gerry Hughes has stepped into the role of deputy team principal at the Lola Formula E Team, bringing a massive amount of experience across both Formula E and Formula 1, which includes a previous stint as team principal of the NIO Formula E Team.
Now, this appointment is actually a proper homecoming. Hughes was previously Lola's head of F1 engineering in 2009, and he even did his MSc research thesis on suspension design with the company. On top of that, joining Lola means he is working alongside Mark Preston and Peter McCool for the third time in his career, which should make for some very familiar faces in the garage.
“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 and one that I take great pride in,” Hughes said. He added thatFormula E has evolved massively since he left at the end of Season 5, and he is ready for the new era.
There is more news from the squad as well. For the upcoming 2026/27 Formula E season, the operation will officially compete under the banner of the 'Lola Formula E Team'. This rebrand highlights Lola’s growing status as an independent manufacturer after bringing the race team in-house, though Yamaha will still be right there as a technical partner.
Mishern Chetty, CEO of Lola Cars, explained that Yamaha has been an invaluable technical partner since day one, providing key expertise and resources. Chetty noted that while Yamaha's presence was previously reflected directly in the team name, bringing the race team in-house for the GEN4 campaign has prompted an updated team name and positioning.
Looking back, the squad finished the last campaign 10th in the Teams' Championship with a total of 35 points. The majority of that points haul came courtesy of Lucas di Grassi and his incredible victory at the 2026 Shanghai E-Prix.
As for who will actually drive the cars, the team will announce their 2026/27 driver line-up in due course.
