Zane Maloney sets the pace as Formula 2 pre-season test comes to a close
Zane Maloney was fastest on the final day of the FIA Formula 2 pre-season test in Bahrain but was unable to beat his own lap from the day before.
Zane Maloney was fastest overall in the FIA Formula 2 pre-season test in Bahrain. (James Sutton/Formula Motorsport Limited/Getty Images)
The Rodin Motorsport driver took home the fastest lap of the test with his efforts on day two, returning on day three to set a slightly slower lap of 1:42.468 in the afternoon session on Tuesday.
Isack Hadjar and Campos Racing teammate Pepe Martí led the field out of the blocks on the final day of the three-day test, topping the time sheets as teams focused on long running and race simulations.
Kush Maini was third-fastest for Invicta Racing despite being almost a second down on Hadjar, with Joshua Duerksen completing the most laps after 51 tours for PHM AIX Racing.
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The situation was similar in the afternoon running as teams continued their race efforts in the new 2024 Formula 2 machinery, with Maloney hitting his stride as the final ten minutes turned into a shootout with Jak Crawford and Ritomo Miyata.
Maloney's lap was the best of the day, with Crawford and Miyata completing the top three.
Amaury Cordeel completed a marathon 50 laps for Hitech Pulse-Eight.
Isack Hadjar topped the afternoon session on day three. (Formula Motorsport Limited)
"I think that's a good sign," said Maloney after topping the time sheets on day two.
"I mean, I was six-tenths off the whole three days of testing last year, so I can only take it as a good sign and we'll see going into tomorrow.."
Despite a lack of improvement from Monday, the Bajan driver took home the fastest lap of the test with his efforts on day two.
"I think this year, for the first part of it, it’s going to be all about who can make the biggest steps with the car and then the driver getting a feel for it as quickly as possible," he said of the 2024 car.
"It's nice. It feels similar, if someone drove one day in the old one, one day in the new one, they're not going to feel massively different. But after doing a full year in the old one, you do feel those small, different things."
Zane Maloney on track on Tuesday in Bahrain. (Formula Motorsport Limited)
"It does feel a bit different in certain areas, certain corners," said Maloney.
"In the high speed, the wings are new, so the downforce levels are a bit different. But when you jump in, you can still tell it’s an F2 car with a turbo and Pirelli tyres, 18-inch wheels.”
"The big things feel the same.”
The FIA Formula 2 field returns for the Bahrain Grand Prix from 29 February - 2 March.
