Yamaha will be present in Formula E starting from the next season, in 2025. The Iwata manufacturer is part of the Lola Cars project as a technical partner.
Lola works with Yamaha ‘to develop and provide a power unit’ for the electric single-seater championship. The manufacturer’s identity is well represented in the conceptual images of the single-seater that have been released.
Associated mainly with motorcycling, Yamaha has a history in four wheels, notably in Formula 1: it was an engine manufacturer between 1989 and 1997 (consecutively from 1991 to 1997), in collaboration with legendary teams like Brabham, Jordan, and Tyrrel. However, the results were always poor, with only two podiums standing out: Mark Blundell finished third in the 1994 Spanish GP giving Tyrrel its last podium; and Damon Hill came in second in the 1997 Hungarian GP for Arrows.
Outside of competition, Yamaha also participated in the construction of engines for automobiles, doing so for Toyota or Volvo, in addition to having a partnership with Ford. Furthermore, they signed a series of concept cars between 2013 and 2017, in collaboration with Gordon Murray Design. Heiji Maruyama, director of Yamaha Motor, explained this investment in Formula E: ‘The Yamaha Motor Company is accelerating research and development of various technologies that contribute to sustainability. As a technical partner, we hope to acquire more advanced energy management technologies through the highest level of electric competition in Formula E. We also share Lola’s new philosophy of sustainable motorsport and are very pleased and honored to form this partnership with them‘.
