Former junior F1 who desires to rejuvenate his profession in Japan

Junior's profession Zak O'Sullivana makes a formidable reading. The British led to the highest two of every full campaign by which he raced, apart from one. His first of two seasons of Formula 3 in 2022 was also his only yr and not using a victory.

Although approaching Formula 2 in 2024 it turned out to be difficult before the financial difficulties limited his season of the Grand Prix, O'Sullivan still managed to register two wins. His Monaco racing triumph was possible due to the superbly time of the incident with the late races-it was possible to enter Pitlane before displaying the virtual safety car-and barely any races took place within the SPA sprint race, by which O'Sullivan a converted pole. But he didn’t make mistakes and gathered a robust ride in fourth place within the SPA feature race to emphasise his pace this weekend.

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To say, the art was not entirely the strength that took place in 2023, when the champion Theo Pourchaire and debutant Victor Martins combined the title of teams. Together with a competitive order shocked by the introduction of the brand new Dallar F2 2024 chassis, expected that the favourite Martins won just once and has never been to hunt for the title. O'Sullivan was actually before the Frenchman within the classification before Monza, which proved his last trip with art before leaving F2.

O'Sullivan, forced to search for racing options, began the Suzuka Super Formula test after the season with Kondo Racing on the day reserved for debutants. This led to the complete contract for 2025, within the queue with the prevailing champion Super GT Kenta Yamashita. He joins the Japanese Formula 3 2019 champion, Sacha Fenestraz (Tom), freshly after going with Nissan in Formula E, and the previous World Endurance Championship, Oliver Rasmussen (Impul) among the many contingent of “Gaijin”.

“It's very different,” says O'Sullivan 2021 GB3, comparing F2 paddocks and super formulas. “I feel that it boils all the way down to the incontrovertible fact that in fact in Japan that is their most vital racing series is their version F1. Of course, there’s rather a lot more attention than on F2.

“But I was a bit surprised at the test, how the paddocks were occupied. There were pitlane walks for fans, and even the stands were full, so it's really cool. Of course, it's always nice to have support. “

The victory in Monaco was the best point of the difficult season of debutants in F2, where funds

Photo: Formula Motorsport LTD

In one photo O'Sullivan may very well be seen a moment between the transporters. But it was not only an element of fans' interest, since it reveals: “I got a call for the test day or two earlier, so I came really late to the track.”

In 2024, the worlds of F2 and super formulas became a bit intertwined, and Pourchaire went to Japan, while the recently curled Super Formula and the super GT Ritomo Miyata Master moved in the wrong way. While the time of pourchaire from the impulse ended after one weekend, when McLaren called him to fill the place of Indycar, Miyata found his first F2 campaign difficult. The Rodin driver took nineteenth place in the final classification – three places behind O'Sullivan – with the Fifth goal in Melbourne his best results.

Admitting that perhaps he should ask Miyat for advice before jumping into the Dallar SF24 with an excellent formula, O'Sullivan explains that “the lead is very intuitive” and immediately recognizes: “There is a lot more pressure than what I got used to F2 “.

“There is no real Tyre savings in the race, so you can push it quite hard” Zak O'Sullivan

“The level of performance is much closer to F1,” says O'Sullivan, who needed to try Formula 1 automotive as his award for winning the Aston Martin Martin Brdc award in 2021. Driver test in Abu Zabi. “Supporting the steering wheel in the car is also a nice addition!” adds.

“It didn't take too long. The car is inspiring. Of course, in the first test there are always areas that you do not quite get, but I liked the test and it was good to drive. “

On the tires, it’s needed to get used to the Yokama rubber, and never to the compounds of Pirelli, with whom he spent for the previous 4 years, O'Sullivan adds: “Most of Pirellis is [fall apart quickly]Unfortunately, but we get used to them and learn to ride around restrictions.

“The important difference in superpower is that I come all the way down to 13-inch wheels, which regularly changes the dynamics of the automotive, makes it more predictable and you’ve gotten slower accumulation to the utmost handle.

O'Sullivan liked to address a better pressure force provided in an excellent formula

Photo: Masahide Kamio

“The main dynamics of the tire is that it has a very rigid side wall, which will cope with the strength of G cars, so it makes the grip quite binary-attached or turned off, which takes some time to get used to it. But it is durable, in the race there is no real saving of tyre, so you can press quite hard. “

After the departure of F2 O'Sullivana, sports director Williams, Sven Smeets, referred to the “personal problem” between the motive force and the art, commenting on Motorsport.com: “I can't really develop it, and this is more a question for them, what is the question for them, What is a question for them happened to art. “

O'Sullivan, giving his version of events, explains: “It's quite easy – I lacked money to compete in F2. Perhaps the quote with art problems was that we couldn't pay them, so there’s your problem.

“We all agreed to part with one another between art and me, and it is dependent upon Williams, who arrange on the spot. Łukasz [Browning] In the tip I got a spot, nevertheless it's quite irrelevant. The important problem was that I couldn't afford the F2 season. We separated roads with art, and in addition shared the road with Williams.

“I think it was a mutual agreement, that there was no place for me at the Academy or any plans for the future, so on both sides it was best to part. But I really liked my three years. I learned a lot and of course, without their support, I would never have F2 level. “

Pressed on whether funds could also be problematic in 2025, O'Sullivan confirms that “this will not be a problem at all.”

“Five -year plans” are fashionable, especially in football, each time a brand new manager is signed, but O'Sullivan is shy for his own future and maintains that his performances in the way in which ultimately determine whether his long -term perspectives lie in Japan.

This week, it was announced that O'Sullivan would mix his super exploits formulas with the duties of the simulator for the ENVISION Formula E team, ensuring the needed support for Robin Frijns and Sebastien Bemumi. It will even complete a free exercise session in Dżudda.

Because funds are usually not concern for racing for Kondo, O'Sullivan will probably be released from concentration on driving

Photo: Super Formula

“This is definitely a consideration for me, of course this year's main program is a great formula, so I focus on it as well as possible and have a good season,” says O'Sullivan about my duties in Formula E.

“But also from the side, in fact my work with Envision, I need to learn as much as possible. I’m sure that I just like the automotive in Jeddah, so it is a definitely profitable profession option.

“The session itself will provide me with a good opportunity to learn a car, and I will also make sure that I will spend as much time as possible with the team during the race week, so I absorb as much as possible.”

“I can't wait to be on some old school songs again. Of course, being in the F1 package, you go to several street circuits, but it is mainly widely open circuits, so it will be nice to be on something narrow again ” Zak O'Sullivan

Now, accustomed to the swaths of asphalt outflow, which decorate modern places of the Grand Prix, a driver who turns 20 next month, is essentially the most excited sampling systems that cause his earliest racing experience in Great Britain.

“I really can't wait for Sugo,” he reveals. “I spent three years racing in Great Britain on really narrow songs, equivalent to Oulton Park and Brands GP, and I saw some cerebish there and appears really cool.

“I can't wait to be on some old school songs again. Of course, being in the F1 package, you go to several street circuits, but it is mainly wide open circuits, so it will be nice to be on something narrow again. In addition, the weather is quite variable in Japan, so I'm sure we'll have wet races. “

Whether rainfall and British systems can provide a house away from home for O'Sullivan, it’ll just be seen. But following within the footsteps of Geoff Lees and Richard Lyons to turn out to be the third British champion in the best category of Japan, he will definitely be a tempting challenge.

Can a return to old -school works in Japan help O'Sullivan re -discover his profession's momentum he lost in F2?

Photo: Super Formula