Zane Maloney has revealed Lewis Hamilton is his idol, taking particular inspiration from his debut season in Formula 1 and how he handled the controversial end to 2021.
Maloney, who is currently driving in the Formula 2 Championship for Carlin, is looking to become the first F1 driver from Barbados.
He is also one of Red Bull‘s reserve drivers, having joined the junior team at the start of 2023.
“I was three years old in 2007 when Lewis joined F1 and since then he’s been my idol,” Maloney exclusively told Total-Motorsport.com.
“The person I look up look up to is Lewis. He’s a seven-time world champion. At that stage, he had no World Championships, but straightaway, got to F1 and was as quick as any drivers.
“Of course, looking up to him on the driving side of things, how he handles himself off the track is amazing as well.
“When he when he lost the title in 2021, how how he reacted to it, I think not too many people in this world will react to that type of scenario like how he did.”
Maloney dreaming of F1
Maloney is one of the biggest talents in motorsport, having moved up the junior ladder each year.
He won the British F4 Championship in 2019, before moving on to Euroformula, Formula Regional, F3 and now F2 in the next four seasons.
The 19-year-old says he has learned to take things session by session and tries not to think big picture.
“Formula 1 has always been my goal but F2 is my focus right now,” said Maloney.
“My dream is F1 and being part of Red Bull is a great opportunity as well. So things are aligning very well in my career and I just need to go on track and do the best job I can in every car I drive, so that’s really what I’m thinking about. Not much else.”
