Red Bull star defects to rivals as two F1 racers feel the pressure to keep seats

31 January 2024 , 17:29

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Zan Maloney begins a new era of his motorsport career after leaving Red Bull (Image: Getty Images)

Zane Maloney has joined Sauber as a reserve driver for the Stake Formula 1 team after leaving the Red Bull academy.

The 20-year-old from Barbados was one of six Formula 2 drivers who raced last year with backing from the F1 champions. But most no longer have that support after Red Bull chose to make sweeping changes to their junior programme.

Maloney finished 10th in the standings in his debut season at F2 level and stood on the podium four times. He will continue to race for the newly-rebranded Rodin Motorsport this year, alongside new team-mate Ritomo Miyata who won the 2023 Super Formula title.

And the Bajan will do so with the backing of a new F1 team. He has joined the Sauber academy and been named as a reserve driver which means, alongside last year's F2 champion Theo Pourchaire, he will be in the frame to step in for a short-notice F1 debut should the need arise.

"I am honoured to join the Sauber Academy and to take on the role of one of Stake F1 Team's reserve drivers," he said. "The Sauber name resonates with Formula 1, as it has been part of the sport for over thirty years, paving the way for so many drivers who went on to achieve great success.

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"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 Formula 1 driver." Meanwhile, Sauber Academy director Beat Zehnder has given Maloney a lofty goal for his sophomore F2 campaign.

He said: "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 Formula 2 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."

Maloney's recruitment places further pressure on the current Sauber drivers on the F1 grid. Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu both retained their places for 2024 with minimum concern, but both their contracts expire at the end of this year.

Sauber enters a new era from 2026 when it becomes the Audi works team, and the German carmaker will be looking to the future. Zhou in particular has yet to truly establish himself on the F1 grid and, if he fails to do so this year, Pourchaire and Maloney will be gunning to replace him.

Daniel Moxon