Photo: Sauber
Sauber has announced it has signed Formula 2 racer Zane Maloney to its academy and has also made him reserve driver for the recently rebranded Kick Sauber Formula 1 team.
Maloney is set for a very busy 2024 as at 14 of the F1 rounds he will be racing for Rodin Motorsport in the supporting F2 championship. He came 10th in F2 last year as a rookie, making the podium four times.
He has already spent two weekends as Andretti Global’s reserve driver in Formula E, and will occupy that role at five further events that do not clash with his F2 commitments. There are then 10 other F1 race weekends where he could be called up to serve as Sauber’s reserve.
Maloney moves to Sauber after a single season as a Red Bull junior, with F1’s dominant force having signed him a year ago after he became FIA Formula 3 Championship runner-up as a rookie in 2022.
“I am honoured to join the Sauber Academy, and to take on the role of one of Stake F1 Team’s reserve drivers,” said Maloney.
“The Sauber name resonates with F1, as it has been part of the sport for over 30 years, paving the way for so many drivers who went on to achieve great success. I am pleased to become part of this family, and I am looking forward to working together this season, as I move closer to my goal of becoming a F1 driver.”
Beat Zehnder, director of the Sauber Academy, commented: “We are delighted to welcome Zane as the latest addition to the Sauber Academy. His path through the junior series has been remarkable so far and, with his speed and potential, he surely makes a great addition to our talented roster. In addition to his F2 campaign, where he will aim to succeed our own Theo Pourchaire to the title, Zane will also share with him the reserve driver role for Stake F1 Team. On behalf of the whole team, I give him my warmest welcome onboard, and look forward to working together and achieving great success.”
Sauber’s long-time protege Theo Pourchaire, the reigning F2 champion, is racing in Super Formula this year.