Picking up where they left off: Rodin Carlin testing round-up

21 February 2023

After ending last season in such fine form, Rodin Carlin will be looking to carry that momentum into their 2023 campaign and propel themselves forward into title contention from the get-go.

With a fresh new line-up of new Red Bull juniors Enzo Fittipaldi and Formula 3 Vice-Champion Zane Maloney, the British outfit are fielding two standout drivers who are expected to shine this season. Following the conclusion of pre-season testing in Sakhir, the pair were brimming with confidence in themselves and the team but were cautious that nobody has shown their full hand yet before the opening round.

“I feel very good going into the season after preseason testing,” said Maloney. “Of course, it's great to get in the car again. All the rookies have not done many days in the F2 car, so to be able to do three more days of learning and continuous driving is great for confidence.

“Of course, testing doesn't mean much in terms of lap times or in terms of performance, but to feel comfortable in the car means a lot. I'm looking forward to getting going in the season and then hopefully starting off where we ended last year in F3.”

Fittipaldi echoed his sentiments, adding that: “I’m feeling great after the three days of testing with Carlin in Bahrain. It was a great feeling after such a long time without driving to be back, and with Carlin it was amazing. It was a very productive three days of testing. I think we learned a lot and we're more than ready for the first race weekend in Bahrain in about a week from now.”

As one of nine rookie drivers lining up on the grid this season, it was all about taking advantage of the mileage available for Maloney. While the Bajan driver has already made his Formula 2 debut at the season finale in Yas Marina last year, the three days of pre-season testing proved to be no less crucial for him to widen his understanding of his new machinery.

Recognising that his time behind the wheel is limited and that he won’t get another testing opportunity until after he’s got four rounds under his belt, Maloney completed 170 laps. Alongside his Brazilian teammate, the duo notched 331 laps on the board and the 19-year-old believes that putting in the graft now has set a firm foundation to build upon once the season is in full swing.

“It’s really important to use the three days in Abu Dhabi and the three days in Bahrain to the maximum and it’s very difficult once the season starts as you're flat out into Practice, Qualifying and the races The most amount of laps that you do is in testing and the main thing for me was just to get up to speed in the F2 car and continue to try different things on track, try different things off track with the car setup.

“Carlin have been doing a great job at teaching me what I need to know for the season, so I do think we're in the best place that we could be with the amount that we've done. Now it's just trying to put it into performance on the race weekend.”

They were certainly no strangers to the top end of the timing sheets either, with at least one Rodin Carlin car securing a top 10 spot in five out of the six sessions.

Gathering the data from multiple race runs and Qualifying simulations, Rodin Carlin will now be looking at how translate that pace into being frontrunning contenders once more. While weak circuits for the team were few and far between last year, the Bahrain International Circuit has proved to be one they’re particularly well suited to.

2022 saw them net four top seven finishes in Sakhir, with Liam Lawson achieving back-to-back podium finishes. Additionally, Rodin Carlin have stood on the rostrum in three of their last four appearances at the track and this knowledge should imbue them with a sense of confidence that they can start their ‘23 campaign on the right track.

Returning to base, attentions have now turned to more of the behind the scenes work in their pre-season preparations. Whilst Maloney had already been a well-known figure within the team from his British F4 days, he and Fittipaldi recognise the importance of a strong working relationship to maximise their package’s potential – particularly opting for the right strategies come race day due to the circuit’s abrasive nature.

“Bahrain is a particular track because the asphalt is extremely rough and very hard on the tyres, so tyre degradation is very high at this track,” noted Fittipaldi. “I think in the races the strategies are going to vary a lot from team to team, so it's going to be very interesting. I think you will be able to lose and gain a lot depending on what strategy you do. I'm just very much looking forward to it, I think me and the team are very ready for this first race weekend and I can't wait to have that first Qualifying of the year.”

Maloney added: “I think the biggest thing to work on before Bahrain is to continue to do prep with the team, get to know the team even better. Even though I've known them for a long time, it's always good to have a great working relationship within the team and of course with Enzo to continue to push each other forwards. I think already the team have gelled very well together, so it's really exciting and I'm sure that we're going to have great results this year, but also have a lot of fun along the way and really enjoy the racing. Of course, that's a positive and that's needed to get the results.

“We'll be doing a few sim days before Bahrain. I'm training in the gym almost every day and just being as prepared as possible for Round 1. Everyone has done three days at least now on the circuit, so it's going to be very close and it's going to be difficult to know where we're going to stand right now.

"It's more just put in the work now and really see where we stand in Round 1 and try to carry it forward throughout the season because it's going to be a very long season - a very close season, I'm sure. There are so many drivers at the front, in the middle and even at the back that are amazing drivers, so we'll see where we are and continue to push on from there.”

With several teams expected to be key players in the quest for the 2023 title, Rodin Carlin aren’t underestimating their opponents. Yet given their rate of progression and overall consistency, you’d be remiss not to believe they could go one better than Teams’ Championship runners-up this time around.