Zane Maloney, the race winner, celebrated his victory in the parc fermé. The event took place on March 2, 2024, during the FIA Formula 2 Championship, Round 1, Feature Race in Sakhir, Bahrain, on a Saturday.
Zane Maloney, a driver for Rodin Motorsport, is feeling confident after securing two impressive wins in the opening race of the 2024 Formula 2 season in Bahrain. Looking ahead to Round 2 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, the Barbadian driver shared his thoughts. Maloney, who was a rookie in F2 last year, finished the 2023 season in 10th place in the Drivers’ Championship with four podiums.
During the pre-season, Maloney immediately showed signs of being a stronger competitor. He proved to be the fastest driver during the three-day test in Bahrain in February. This speed translated well into the actual races. In the Bahrain Sprint, Maloney started eighth on the grid but managed to secure his first win. In the Feature Race, he started third on the grid and took the lead, doubling his win count for the F2 season opener. This achievement made him the first driver since the formation of GP2 in 2005 to win both opening races of the season in the secondary single-seater formula.
Maloney expressed his excitement about his wins, stating: “It’s incredible.” He emphasized the importance of starting the championship strong and acknowledged that every driver aims to be on pole and win the Feature Race. Although he wasn’t on pole, winning the Sprint Race was a significant bonus for him. He believes that these wins have put him in a positive mindset for the upcoming race in Jeddah.
Maloney attributes his success to a change in mindset. He learned a lot from his experiences in the previous year, not only as a driver, but also in terms of mentality. Now he understands the importance of being in the right mindset for each session. This realization has had a positive impact on his performance, and he is determined to find ways to consistently be the fastest driver on the track.
Maloney’s recent back-to-back wins have given him an early 12-point lead in the driver standings. Speculations about his chances of winning the championship have already begun, but he prefers to take each session as it comes, rather than focusing solely on the title. According to Maloney, if his goal wasn’t to win the championship, he would be doing something else in his home country, Barbados. Winning every race throughout the year may not be realistic due to the unpredictable nature of the sport and the exceptional talent of other drivers and teams. Instead, the key to success lies in approaching each session, lap, and day with the team and maximizing their collective efforts. The ultimate goal is to win the championship, and positive results will naturally follow.
Although teams have some understanding of their new F2 cars after pre-season testing and Round 1 in Bahrain, the upcoming race in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, presents a different challenge. Maloney recognizes that entering any F2 weekend, the outcome is uncertain. This was also true for the previous race in Bahrain, where many unknown factors were at play. However, Maloney is confident that if he performs to the best of his ability and the team optimizes the car setup, they will be competitive at the front. He trusts the people he works with, and they trust him in return. Therefore, the focus should be on Jeddah as a united team, leaving Bahrain behind.
Despite having already won two races this season, Maloney understands that past victories do not guarantee future success. It is essential to stay grounded and maintain a consistent level of performance throughout the season. The journey is just beginning, and the team must continue to deliver their best in every race.
Maloney experienced a significant change in his affiliation to the Drivers’ Academy when transitioning from 2023 to 2024. Previously associated with Red Bull Junior, Maloney has now joined the Sauber Driver Academy and holds the team based in Hinwil in high esteem. He has expressed his satisfaction with the Sauber Academy, highlighting the amount of information and advice he receives from experienced individuals. Maloney’s main goal is to maximize his collaboration with the team and extract the most value from it.
Maloney attributes his improved performance on the track to the support he receives from Rodin, Sauber, and his reserve role in the Andretti Formula E team. Although being affiliated with the Sauber Academy opens up the possibility of testing a Formula 1 car, Maloney remains solely focused on his participation in F2 with Rodin. He believes that diverting his attention from his current responsibilities would harm his performance in F2. His dedication is to excel in F2 and deliver exceptional results.
Participating in this championship is a challenging endeavor, given the high level of competition. Maloney acknowledges the support he receives from Rodin and expresses his commitment to giving back by giving his best effort. The team learns and improves continuously together, fostering a collaborative environment where everyone strives for progress.
© 2024
The future of sport: a vision beyond limits
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