Graduation day for Maloney

Zane Maloney is one of three drivers moving on from the Sauber Academy, according to a press release from Sauber on Wednesday evening. After a long, intense year of racing, the Academy said “the time has come to take stock” for its drivers. Maloney, Théo Pourchaire, and Carrie Schreiner kept active throughout 2024, racing on some of the world’s most renowned circuits representing Sauber Motorsport’s driver development programme in their respective campaigns.

One of Sauber Academy’s 2024 new entries, The Boy From Barbados enjoyed a strong start to his Formula 2 campaign with a dominant weekend in Bahrain that saw him winning both the Sprint and the Feature Race.

Maloney’s season featured strong performances and consistent results; the 21-year-old quickly adapted to the new generation car, earning multiple podiums and remaining competitive weekend after weekend.

Despite some challenges along the way, Maloney remained in contention for the title as the championship progressed. Much like fellow Academy member, Pourchaire, Maloney supported the team with simulator work back at base in Hinwil in between races, as part of his Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber reserve driver role.

The penultimate round of the Formula 2 championship in Qatar marked the young Barbadian’s last appearance in the series, as the following week Maloney travelled to São Paulo, Brazil, for the inaugural race of the 2024-2025 Formula E Championship, making his debut for Lola Yamaha ABT.

Joining Super Formula as the reigning Formula 2 champion, Pourchaire made his debut in the Japanese series in early March. An opportunity across the Atlantic saw the young Frenchman making the move to IndyCar, promptly showcasing adaptability and race craft in his North American debut, which culminated with a points finish.

Alongside his racing programmes, Pourchaire supported Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber as reserve driver, both trackside and off the track, working at the simulator and providing crucial feedback for the team.

With Formula One providing full support to F1 Academy from 2024, Schreiner was chosen to represent the team at the beginning of her second season in the series. In a campaign marked by consistent performances and steady progress, Schreiner continued to show her skill and positive approach, chasing point finishes and managing to overturn tough race weekends with grit and determination.

It’s been a long season for the three drivers of the Sauber Academy, who are now set to graduate from the development programme. While pursuing new endeavours and progressing in their racing careers, each of them will remain part of Sauber Motorsport’s legacy in the sport, having left a mark in their own unique way.

(Sauber)