BERLIN, Germany, CMC – Teenaged race car driver Zane Maloney said it had been a learning experience for him driving in Formula 2 (F2) this year. Still, he looked forward to significantly impacting three upcoming races.
The 19-year-old Barbadian has made a name for himself on the international motor racing circuit over the past four years, leaving karting behind. He is only one step below Formula 1 (F1) as a world-champion Red Bull Racing team test driver.
In his F2 rookie season, Maloney is 11th in the 22-driver standings on 29 points after four of the 14 races on the schedule for this year, with his best showing a third in the season opener in Bahrain and a solid fifth in Australia.
Maloney said coming to grips with the finer details of driving an F2 car has been his main challenge at the moment.
“I think any car you go into is a little bit different, and you need to adapt to F2 maybe a bit more than others with the turbo and the big tires,” he told the GiveMeSport website in a recent interview.
“I thought straight away when I got in the car that the first bit is not too difficult to adapt to, but it’s the small details that you learn, and you don’t have lots of time available just to learn.
“I’m just trying to continue to make that learning curve a bit less, let’s say, which I feel that we’re doing a good job of. With a bit of precision, the results will come. So the team and I are working hard, and I’m up to grips with the F2 car now.”
F2 is part of the undercard of the F1 race weekends and will have three back-to-back races at the Italian Grand Prix from May 18 to 20, Monte Carlo Grand Prix from May 24 to 27, and the Spanish Grand Prix from June 1 to 2.
Maloney, a Formula 3 title contender last year, said the three races would be an excellent opportunity to prove that he is learning and set things up for a solid finish to the season.
“I’ve learned so much from last year,” he said, recalling his battle to top the standings in the third tier of international motor racing. “Last year, after three rounds, I think I had six points and a lot of DNFs (did not finish). I’m not where I want to be right now [in F2,] but I’m in a lot better place than I was 12 months ago.
“I think the biggest thing I learned from last year is to pick up the points when you can and the most you can on that day. And if the win is there, take the win; if the podium is there, take the stage – but don’t try for too much, which I feel I’ve done an excellent job of this year.
“The goal is to continue to have great rounds, and in F3 last year, we had a great end to the season, and I’m hoping that we can continue to make those steps this season. I’m sure that if we continue to do what we are, we will progress throughout the season and hopefully fight for the title again.”
Maloney drives for the Rodin Carlin team, sixth in the 11-team drivers’ standings on 60 points – 43 behind leaders Prema Racing.
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