Academy driver Maloney wins Formula 2 opener: Man from Barbados saves the evil Sauber day

class=”sc-cffd1e67-0 iQNQmc”>

With Verstappen and Leclerc, Formula 1 will have the front row in 2024. And the Sauber fans were introduced to the old misery in the first qualifying: Bottas (16th) and Zhou (17th), with a distance of only 0.001 seconds between them, survived the first No 18 minutes.

That was no surprise: the Hinwil duo greeted everyone from the back at all three training sessions. And just like in the third training session, Sargeant (Williams) and the two Alpine cucumbers of Ocon and Gasly also had no chance.

Maloney wins Formula 2 opener

But for the bright green Kick-Sauber team there was still something to celebrate before qualifying: the new academy driver Zane Maloney (20), released as a Red Bull junior after last season, won the first Formula 2 race of the new season. Almost six seconds ahead of Crawford.

It was to the team’s credit that they could at least forget the renewed disappointment with Bottas and Zhou. Embarrassing, because Hülkenberg from bottom team Haas-Ferrari reached the top ten final.

Memories of Pourchaire

And one can only hope that Maloney doesn’t have to suffer the same fate as Thée Pourchaire in Hinwil. The Frenchman had finally won the F2 title after more than three years – with a victory. But people clearly always doubted his abilities.

With the new super talent Maloney you finally have to take risks in the future. It can’t get any worse!

Source : Blick