
When Formula E drivers Lucas Di Grassi and Zane Maloney turned Superman for Berlin E-Prix
It's not unusual for teams to introduce new designs for special Formula E races, be it for livery or driver suits. While Nissan's cherry blossom livery at the Tokyo E-Prix was a hit and now NEOM McLaren will be racing in a striking white and blue livery, the Lola Yamaha ABT team did something absolutely unexpected at the Berlin E-Prix.
Drivers Lucas Di Grassi and Zane Maloney literally wore Superman bodysuits for the race at the Tempelhof Airport Circuit. And just one glimpse of the same wouldn't be enough.
Here's what Lola Yamaha ABT drivers wore at Berlin E-Prix
Ahead of the Berlin race, Lucas Di Grassi shared some interesting pictures to introduce his Superman bodysuit. He was seen jumping up in the air while sporting the bodysuit. He captioned it, 'No CGI or AI involved. Driver was ok(ish) after the jumps.'
A fan wrote, 'Even the suit is made as Superman! Man, I love this season.' Another called it, 'Sensacional!' A fan also praised 'The verticality' in the picture.
Lola Yamaha ABT had introduced him and Zane Maloney with the caption: 'The beacons of hope. @zane.maloney and @lucasdigrassi are wearing bespoke race suits in a specially wrapped car this weekend, to celebrate our partnership with @warnerbrosde and the new Superman movie. Up, up and away!'
The drivers posed enthusiastically on their Formula E Gen3 Evo cars and even jumped from them to get some perfect pictures to suit the Superman theme.
Lola Yamaha ABT's performance at Berlin E-Prix
However, Lola Yamaha ABT didn't have a very good race at the Tempelhof Circuit. Lucas Di Grassi suffered a crash in FP3. Neither of the two drivers could bring in any points for the team. Di Grassi finished 18th and 12th in the Round 13 and Round 14 races, respectively. His teammate Zane Maloney finished 16th and 18th in the two races at the double-header.
After the race, Di Grassi shared a post on Instagram in which he wrote, 'We are one… team. Amazing effort by the whole team to put the car back in one piece after a big crash in FP3. From 22 to 12 but not enough to score points. We keep fighting.'
Also Read:
McLaren Formula E unveils new blue tone livery for London E-Prix, Sam Bird reacts, 'Wasn't expecting that'
Di Grassi did achieve one podium this season, in Miami, where he finished second. He is currently 18th in the Formula E Driver Standings.
Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Indian Express
an hour ago
- Indian Express
With Superman, James Gunn projects America's favourite superhero as an outcast, but that's not his sharpest comment on the country's politics
James Gunn has made a career out of telling the outcast's story. From his early films that went under the radar — the 2006 sci-fi horror comedy Slither and his 2010 maiden superhero movie Super — to his much-celebrated Marvel franchise Guardians of the Galaxy and DC debut The Suicide Squad, Gunn has even infiltrated the saturated superhero universes with oddball energy and subversive quirks. Who else could take America's favourite superhero and turn him into an outcast, an outsider, an 'immigrant,' as he put it. In fact, the first time Superman is addressed in Gunn's iteration, he's referred to as an 'alien.' Identity crisis is not new to Superman's conflicts. Even in Zack Snyder's Man of Steel (2013), Superman grappled with the idea of being an outsider, but that jostling is more internalized than external. In fact, it gets to the external in Snyder's Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016), when even the Caped Crusader turns on his future Justice League teammate and levels allegations of conspiracy against America on him. During the interval block, when Superman is on trial, and a suicide bomber destroys the court building in order to frame him, the lone survivor in him knows he'll be blamed for the explosion. But unlike Snyder, Gunn enjoys the unique position of straddling both DCEU and MCU. He took his signature lightness of touch, that made Guardians of the Galaxy so watchable, and showered it all over The Suicide Squad, making it stand out as a far cry from David Ayer's gruesome 2016 version. Sure, Snyder's gritty treatment made the internet demand his cut of Justice League (2021), but one shouldn't forget that the Guardians of the Galaxy cast also lobbied for Gunn to be reinstated as the threequel director even after he'd joined the rival gang in DC. Also, unlike Snyder, Gunn is able to focus more on the external than the internal because he's able to make his characters self-aware, unassuming, and not as holier than thou that they're often perceived to be. What jarred so much in a Snyder film — that Martha twist in Batman v Superman — could very well land in a Gunn world, with two more punches rolled in along with it for good effect. Gunn stamps his trademark creative motifs all over Superman — an exaggerated villain in Nicholas Hoult's Lex Luthor, a furry companion to the protagonist in Krypto, and allegiance with fellow anomalous superheroes in Justice Gang. Hawkeye, Green Lantern, and Metamorpho's warring of words with Superman make them a team trying to reconcile their eccentricities in order to meet the higher purpose of saving the day. It's no Guardians of the Galaxy, but the departure from a cohesive unit like Avengers or Justice League underlines the theme Gunn is trying to spotlight through his iteration. Gunn reflects an America where the big tech chief shapes and controls the narrative because he owns everything from the mainstream media, social media to search engine algorithms. Gunn's Elon Musk-like Luthor is dating a dumb-as-a-doorbell Instagram influencer. But again, in a James Gunn world, no outcast is disregarded as a tokenistic presence. The very influencer, who's considered merely a flowerpot in a room full of technologically proficient, advanced individuals, in fact turns out to be their Kryptonite. Even the one she's in cahoots with — a reporter who often goes unnoticed in the newsroom thanks to his everyman-ness — ends up using that very anonymity to gain an edge over America's gravest internal threat. Every life — a woman in a car, a girl crossing the road, and a dog barking at a life-sized monster — is accounted for. Superman spends most of his time and energy saving each and every one of them, instead of flagging the American stripes at the cost of civilian or individual casualties. That's why when Superman's past and origin are used as tools for his character assassination, his adoptive parents remind him of his strongest superpower — his choices. Even if his biological parents from Krypton sent him off to Earth to lord over the gullible and the less mighty, he chooses otherwise. It's only when he comes to terms with the fact that he's as human as the Earthlings — because he wrestles with self-doubt like the rest of them — that he makes Luthor confess to his real motive. Luthor wants to eliminate Superman because as a proud innovator, he wants to prove brain's supremacy over brawn. But what good is a brain if it wants to dumb the other brains down? What good is an insider if he betrays his nation for power? Similarly, what good is a peace-keeping nation if it engages in war to chase that idea of peace? Gunn invokes America's political irony in Superman, but he reserved his sharpest commentary for another character — Peacemaker. John Cena's anti-superhero was introduced in The Suicide Squad as a part of the squad who turns on his teammates on the order of US government stooge Viola Davis' orders. He claims his goal is to achieve peace at any cost, which involves even murdering people left, right, and centre. Like Superman, an outsider who makes America his own, Peacemaker is an insider who infests on his own country, both wearing irony as a cape. Peacemaker grabbed eyeballs for his evil turn in The Suicide Squad, but Gunn, having felt he gave the character a short strife, revives him in a spin-off show on HBO. The length of the format allowed Peacemaker to be presented as a full-blown, well-rounded character. Luthor, or even Superman, couldn't enjoy that because of Gunn's attempt to pack a host of themes and characters into two hours. In Peacemaker, Cena's character has a dad who looks and behaves like Uncle Sam and a bestie in Eagly, a bald eagle who's seen resting on Uncle Sam's arm in pop culture. His central conflict is to not get bogged down by Uncle Sam's pointy finger, but let the eagle guide his allegiance to a nation. An eagle preys, sure, but it also flies. It doesn't let its vision be confined to a country. Christopher Smith aka Peacemaker is the son of a white supremacist who injects his son's blood with racial lordship. Right from childhood, he's shamed for crying like a girl and banished for even harbouring an interest in rap and rock & roll, gifts of the Blacks to the land of America. Smith is hardened to an extent that he doesn't even realize when he accidentally punches his brother to death in a casual, childhood brawl. But because his father blames him for his brother's death, Smith's gnawing guilt sabotages his latent will to do better. He doesn't want to follow in his father's footsteps and engage in war in the name of his nation. All he wants is peace — but the years of conditioning compels him to resort to violence as the path to peace. He becomes a vulture circling his past, even when he wants to chase the dove of peace. While internally, he needs to save America from ingrained white supremacy, externally also, he has to save the world from a rather absurd threat — butterflies taking over human bodies and serving as the hosts in order to bring a new world order. Transformation is in the DNA of a butterfly, so when one of them convinces Peacemaker to join forces because he also desires a better planet, he shakes off the toxic temptation to control and thwarts the threat. His internal journey meets his external — Chris Smith becomes one with Peacemaker, one who wants peace for all, and not peace for the immediate at the cost of war for the other. Also Read — Superman: James Gunn's idea of an India-coded country is regressive and riddled with stereotypes; the Man of Steel wouldn't stand for it This journey felt far too rushed in Superman. The external also weighed heavy on the internal, as is the case with many of these superhero tentpoles. Gunn managed to paint Superman as the ultimate outsider, but his protagonist was too busy saving the world to go on through that internal metamorphosis without spelling it out in dialogues like he does in his final battle scene against Luthor. He announces himself as a human, but the fact is no human proclaims he's one. He just makes peace with the fact that he's no peacemaker; he's just a man battling demons within to choose peace, every day.


Mint
2 hours ago
- Mint
Toyota, Honda, Nissan, other auto stocks rally in Japanese stock market as Nikkei jumps 2%; Here's why
Shares of Japanese car manufacturers soared on Wednesday, with Toyota rising by 11 per cent and Honda climbing 9 per cent, following U.S. President Donald Trump's announcement of a trade agreement with Japan that involves a 15% tariff. Meanwhile, other auto stocks like Nissan rose more than 7 per cent, and Mazda Motor saw a sharp jump of over 16 per cent. Mitsubishi Motors also climbed more than 12 per cent. South Korean automaker Hyundai's shares increased by over 5 per cent on the news, while Kia recorded a modest rise of 0.2 per cent. On the other hand, Japan's Nikkei 225 jumped 2.5 per cent to reach 40,731.86 as of 0121 GMT, driven by an 8.4 per cent surge in the Tokyo Stock Exchange's transport equipment index. NHK stated the new 15 per cent tariff rate would apply to Japanese vehicles, though it remains uncertain whether the lower rate will be extended to automakers from other countries. U.S. President Trump had earlier declared a 25 per cent tariff on all imported vehicles on March 26, which took effect on April 2. Auto exports to the U.S. are vital to Japan's economy, accounting for 28.3 per cent of total exports in 2024, as per customs data. On Tuesday, Trump announced on Truth Social that he had struck the 'largest Deal ever' with Japan, which includes 15 per cent 'reciprocal' tariffs on Japanese goods entering the U.S. Trump also stated that Japan has agreed to invest $550 billion in the U.S., with America receiving '90 per cent of the Profits.' Additionally, he mentioned that Japan would open its market to more U.S. products, including cars, trucks, rice, and other agricultural items. (With inputs from agencies) Disclaimer: This story is for educational purposes only. The views and recommendations above are those of individual analysts or broking companies, not Mint. We advise investors to check with certified experts before making any investment decisions.


Mint
2 hours ago
- Mint
Indian stock market: 8 key things that changed for market overnight - Gift Nifty, US-Japan Trade Deal to Nikkei's rally
Indian stock market: The domestic equity market indices, Sensex and Nifty 50, are expected to open higher on Wednesday, following upbeat global market cues. Asian markets traded higher after the US-Japan trade deal, while the US stock market ended mixed overnight, with the S&P 500 posting record-high close. On Tuesday, the Indian stock market indices ended the volatile session on a flat note with negative bias. The Sensex fell 13.53 points, or 0.02%, to close at 82,186.81, while the Nifty 50 settled 29.80 points, or 0.12%, lower at 25,060.90. 'The market continues to lack clear direction amid mixed earnings announcements and muted global cues. Traders should adopt a hedged approach and focus on fundamentally strong counters, with an emphasis on earnings performance,' said Ajit Mishra – SVP, Research, Religare Broking Ltd. Here are key global market cues for Sensex today: Asian markets traded higher after US President Donald Trump announced a 'massive' trade deal with Japan. Japan's Nikkei 225 jumped 2%, while the Topix rallied 1.87%. Toyota, Nissan, Honda and other Japanese auto stocks surged after the US-Japan trade deal. South Korea's Kospi gained 0.89% and the small-cap Kosdaq was 0.22% higher. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index futures indicated a stronger opening. Gift Nifty was trading around 25,162 level, a premium of nearly 68 points from the Nifty futures' previous close, indicating a positive start for the Indian stock market indices. US stock market ended mixed on Tuesday, with the S&P 500 eking out a record-high close. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.40% to 44,502.44, while the S&P 500 added 0.06% to end at 6,309.62. The Nasdaq closed 0.39% lower at 20,892.69, Tesla share price gained 1.1%, Nvidia share price declined 2.54%, Meta Platforms and Microsoft shares lost about 1% and Alphabet stock price rose 0.65%. RTX stock price declined 1.6%, GM Motors shares tumbled 8.1%, while Ford Motor stock price fell about 1%. Lockheed Martin shares tumbled almost 11% President Donald Trump said the US and Japan had struck a trade deal that includes a lower 15% tariff that will be levied on US imports from the country, including autos, Reuters reported. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the deal would include $550 billion of Japanese investments in the United States. Reports said that US auto tariffs were lowered to 15% from the current 25%. The Union Cabinet approved the free trade agreement with the United Kingdom, news agency PTI reported. The pact, described by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a 'landmark deal,' will be signed during his visit to London this week. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal will accompany Modi. Gold prices rose to a more than five-week peak, supported by a softer US dollar and lower Treasury yields. Spot gold price was steady at $3,430.19 per ounce, after hitting its highest since June 16 earlier in the session. US gold futures were flat at $3,443.30. Crude oil prices steadied after the US-Japan trade deal and a poll that showed US crude stockpiles fell last week. Brent crude futures rose 0.48% to $68.92 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate crude futures rose 0.51% to $65.64 per barrel. The dollar was on a shaky footing against the yen. The dollar was largely flat at 146.61 yen, having slid 0.5% in the previous session. The euro stood at $1.1739, down 0.1%. Sterling was little changed at $1.35235, off 0.1%. The dollar index, which tracks the greenback against major peers, was little changed at 97.430 after a three-day decline. (With inputs from Reuters) Disclaimer: The views and recommendations made above are those of individual analysts or broking companies, and not of Mint. We advise investors to check with certified experts before making any investment decisions.