Photo: Formula Motorsport Limited
New Williams junior Zak O’Sullivan believes his rookie season in the FIA Formula 3 Championship with Carlin will require a different approach to his two previous campaigns with the team.
O’Sullivan came terribly close to winning the British Formula 4 title in his maiden season of single-seater racing in 2020, then won the GB3 championship last year after taking the step up with Carlin.
However, while Carlin has a reputation as one of the most successful teams in the Junior Single Seater, it has struggled in the current iteration of the FIA F3 since it started in 2019. in 2020 and ninth in 2021) and none of its drivers ranked in the top 10 in the drivers.
Before the opening round in Bahrain, O’Sullivan told the media including the Formula Scout that it was “probably not” possible to retire as champion this year.
“I would say, compared to other seasons, there is a lot less pressure on me,” he said. “Of course it’s no secret that Carlin was not the best team in F3 last year, so it’s very difficult for me to put any expectation on a result.
“The last two years I signed for them, they won the team and driver championships last year, so the goal has always been to win the championship. This year it’s very different.
“I would say that all expectations come after round 1 if we get a good idea of where we are, how much if all the progress we have made since last year.”
O’Sullivan has been added to the Carlin F3 line-up by Enzo Trulli and Brad Benavides, who both rode for the team in Euroformula last season.
“We have a whole rookie line-up so the team and I can learn as quickly as possible,” he said.
“Luckily, I think the three of us all have pretty similar feedback about the car, which we need to improve. That always helps, we are all together in debriefing, so hopefully we will lead the team in the right direction over the years and can make progress.
“Test was pretty vague, I think we could very comfortably sit in the top 10 on performance [qualifying] lives, does not live very well on course.
“Like I said, it’s going to be complicated this year. A bit of a different approach as a driver. It’s the first year I did not fight for a championship, I think. I would be surprised if I were,” he said.
“So we have to see, hopefully I can get into that inverted grid to start the season.
“For me, it’s where we end the season [compared] from where we start. It’s pretty hard to make predictions about it. But I doubt you will see champion this year.
O’Sullivan received the prestigious Aston Martin Autosport BRDC Award last month, just days after Williams announced him as a member of his drivers’ academy.
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