Known as ‘the boy from Barbados’, Zane Maloney is preparing for his biggest season of Formula E yet. The 23-year old will be representing Nissan for the first season of GEN4, and racing alongside World Champion teammate Oliver Rowland in 2026/27.
Having raced and won in several junior categories, and becoming the first Barbadian driver to win a race in FIA Formula 3 and FIA Formula 2, Zane Maloney also earned Reserve Driver roles for Red Bull Racing and Sauber in Formula 1.
In an interview conducted earlier this season, Maloney opened up about his family passion for racing, as well as his racing hero Lewis Hamilton and trying to get Rihanna to a Formula E race.
“There's a lot of motorsports in Barbados,” Maloney explained. “So my entire family – so my grandad, my two uncles, my dad, two of my older cousins – were drivers or they are drivers. So from when I was one to two years old, I was at the racetrack every weekend, and I was three when I first drove.
“I used to do like six or seven different sports at school, but racing was always my passion. I guess because of my family, it was all of our passion, so I started then. It was for fun, of course, in Barbados and we didn't even think of anything more than that. Then it started to become a bit more serious, and I got the sponsors I needed from back home, and I just kept going up the rankings each year and I never did more than one year in a category.”
A love for Lewis Hamilton
As to be expected, racing drivers also have their own racing heroes. The same goes for Maloney, who has always been a proud supporter of seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton. The Scuderia Ferrari driver has certainly inspired several drivers across international motorsport, with Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar also sharing his admiration for the F1 legend in recent years.
“I was four years old when Lewis went into F1, so it was Lewis from the beginning,” Maloney confessed when asked about Hamilton. “He came to Barbados in 2014 and drove go-karts with us and I kind of always looked up to him in the sense of on-track, and then every time I met him in those early stages he was very nice and down to earth, so off-track as well.”
Maloney has also said in the past that he picked racing number 22 as a tribute to Hamilton. “[Hamilton] is 44, and I was like if I can be half as good as him then 22.” Makes sense!
Being from Barbados is clearly something Maloney takes great pride with, as the Caribbean country only has a population of 280,000. It has been the birthplace of several sports stars, such as cricketers and NFL players, but there haven’t been any triumphant racing driver exports aside from Zane.
“Like I said, everyone in Barbados loves motorsports, but no one's ever taken it to a professional level or overseas. So, when I started travelling, everyone kind of came behind me and supported me, but all the races were at 3am their time! I got a lot of support, of course, grateful for it, and also trying to make it as far as possible in my career, do as well as possible, so that young kids coming up can see that and also dream to be a professional driver.”
Receiving support from Rihanna
But perhaps, the best known person from the country is global pop phenomenon Rihanna, who is one of Maloney’s close supporters. After winning both rounds in FIA Formula 2 across the first race weekend in Bahrain a few years ago, Maloney received a special message and a follow on Instagram from the singer-songwriter and businesswoman.
“Obviously Rihanna is from Barbados,” Maloney begins, as he explains how the connection between the two began. “She's done amazing things, and I think it was in Bahrain in 2024 when I won both races in the same weekend that I got a message. She followed me and I got a message from her and I thought it was a fan account.
“Since then, she's been supporting me. There were talks, and she wanted to come to Miami last year, but she had other things to do at the last minute, so she couldn't come. So I'm trying. We're trying to get her to a race!
“I'm sure she would love it, but also, and she's given a lot of support. So yeah, grateful for that. It's cool to see celebrities or stars or people doing well in their different genres being from Barbados.”
Looking ahead to GEN4 with Nissan
Back in the present, Maloney has been speaking to Nissan’s media team about how he’s been finding the new team and a brand-new machine to understand.
“The GEN4 car is a big step up,” Maloney confirmed. “With the active differential, permanent all-wheel drive, 600kW of power and more downforce than before, it’s really enjoyable to drive. It’s an exciting moment for the series and we’re confident it will take Formula E to the next level. Nobody quite knows what to expect, but my first laps in the GEN4 car were great.
“In the first race, everyone will be learning so that makes it extra important to be on the pace quickly and start the season with good results.
“I think as a driver, you’re always changing your style, even from race-to-race in the same car. One of the most important skills to have is to be adaptable to the car, circuit and conditions on any particular day. We’re already focused on what we can try in testing to know what tools we have at our disposal for when the time comes to go racing.
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“We’re going to a lot of great circuits next season, including some I have good memories of. I won my British F4 title at Brands Hatch and I took victory at Zandvoort in Formula 3, two tracks I really enjoy. COTA looks like an incredible circuit, with a fast and flowing Sector 1. Generally, we go to some really cool tracks in Formula E so I’m looking forward to it all.”
Maloney and teammate Oliver Rowland will be at Pre-Season Testing at Circuito del Jarama, Spain on 16-20 November.
Find out more
GEN4: A new era of Formula E is about to begin
WATCH: How to watch every Formula E race in your country
CALENDAR: Here's every race set for the 2026/27 Formula E season
TICKETS: Secure your grandstand seats and buy Formula E race tickets
