Zane Maloney takes maiden Formula 2 victory as new era begins in Bahrain

Zane Maloney took his maiden FIA Formula 2 race win in the season-opening sprint race at Bahrain after charging through the field from eighth on the grid.

Zane Maloney celebrates his maiden Formula 2 victory in Bahrain. (Formula Motorsport Limited/Supplied)

Maloney made the winning move on polesitter Jak Crawford on lap eight before sailing off into the distance in the twilight race.

"It was an amazing race," said the Rodin Motorsport driver.

"It started with a great start and then a good first two laps."

"I always put my car in the right place which was good.

"After that to be honest I was happy to settle in my position and try to save the tyres a bit.

"While saving the tyres I was still keeping up so then I decided to just go for it, get in the lead and think about the tyres after that which I did.

"It worked out very well.

"The team gave me a great car so that is the reason."

Zane Maloney leads the Formula 2 field in Bahrain. (Formula Motorsport Limited/Supplied)

The 20-year-old from Bridgetown, Barbados, stamped an early claim on contender status for the 2024 championship, a promising sign for the newly renamed Rodin Motorsport.

With billionaire Rodin CEO David Dicker watching on from the Bahrain paddock, Maloney took the striking black and green car to the top step of the podium in the first race of the new Formula 2 era.

Racing has always been tight in the category, but with 10 rookies and a new car designed to promote closer battles, it was frantic further back through the field, with a seven-car battle emerging for fifth place.

Paul Aron was able to hold the position and pull ahead of the battle pack, while Victor Martins, Dennis Hauger, Zak O'Sullivan, Ritomo Miyata, Gabriel Bortoleto, and Richard Verschoor all traded places for sixth.

It was those six drivers fighting hard in the dying stages that caught the crowd's attention ahead of Formula 1 qualifying, with points only paid down to eighth in the F2 sprint format.

Ritomo Miyata, reigning Super Formula champion and Maloney's Rodin teammate, showed his prowess in the F2 machinery, dancing through the midfield section and slicing through the pack, but at the end it was Bortoleto who came out on top, sixth ahead of O'Sullivan and Hauger.

Jak Crawford, Zane Maloney, and Pepe Marti on the podium following the F2 Sprint Race in Bahrain. (Formula Motorsport Limited/Supplied)

At the front it was smooth sailing for Jak Crawford in second, while Joesp Maria "Pepe" Martí charged through the field in the dying stages to take the final step of the podium.

The Spanish rookie was ecstatic with the result, with Australian Christian Mansell racing to the pit lane to celebrate with his former F3 teammate.

"It feels really good," said the Campos driver.

"I didn’t really expect to be on the podium today, to be honest I was really disappointed yesterday with my quali."

"After everybody more or less got into position I stayed in my place and tried to keep my tyres alive for as long as possible.

"Then I just slowly made my way through, I think I passed four or five drivers in the last 10 laps so obviously it was really satisfying to see that but I am not completely satisfied as if I could had done a little bit of a better job we could have fought for P2.

"There is still a lot to gain but I think it is a really good start."

Race winner Maloney will start from third in the feature race on Sunday, with Bortoleto taking pole position after his Invicta Racing teammate Kush Maini lost the top spot due to a technical infringement.

Watch every race of the FIA Formula 2 season on Kayo Sports.