I've got another guest! This time it's up and coming British star and Williams Driver Academy member, Zak O'Sullivan!
Zak has just joined the PREMA Racing team for F3 in 2023 as prepares to embark on a second year in the series having debuted with Carlin Buzz Racing.
In this interview, which I've been absolutely delighted to do, I ask questions about his road to F3, and his 2022 season among other things!
Onto the interview!
1. You've recently had your first F1 test. Could you explain how good the feeling was?
It was an incredible experience. Definitely a huge step up from anything I’ve ever driven before. I loved it and just want to do it again now!
📸 Zak ready for testing at Silverstone.
2. You're a member of Williams Driver Academy. How big was that for you?
It was a massive moment in my career. It meant so much that Jost and Sven were willing to put their trust in me and support me in my development.
📸 Zak's Carlin car featured Williams' livery, highlighting him from his teammates.
3. How do you rate your personal performance in your rookie F3 year?
I think it wasn’t necessarily the year I had hoped for, but I’m generally pretty pleased with the progress and growth throughout the year. Getting those two podiums was pretty cool.
📸 Ready for the finale.
4. What did you learn from testing with PREMA?
It was interesting to be testing with a new team - understanding the people and how they work. I think by day three we were pretty quick. I enjoyed it!
📸 Zak occupied the car previously run by Jak Crawford while testing with PREMA.
5. What was the highlight of the year?
The pole position and podium at my home race in Silverstone was really special.
📸 A pole and podium made for a good Silverstone weekend for Zak.
6. How much fun were those final laps in Hungary after you switched to slicks?
Very fun! Both Correa and I came out the pits and suddenly because of our pace, the battle between us was essentially the battle for the lead. It felt like we were in a video game on an easier setting!
📸 With just a handful of laps to go, Zak pitted from P22 and breezed past every wet tyre runner to end a stunning P4!
7. How much did you enjoy your home race weekend?
It was brilliant to be in front of home fans, especially as my teams Williams and Carlin are British.
📸 Zak O'Sullivan, Carlin Buzz Racing, Williams, Silverstone, definitely all British!
8. Who has been the toughest driver you’ve ever raced against?
II would say Luke Browning, we’ve had our fair share of close battles, and both race in a similar way.
📸 Browning is this year's GB3 Champion, and won the BRDC award Zak won last year, allowing him to test F1 machinery with Aston Martin too.
9. What’s your favourite circuit you’ve raced on so far?
Oulton Park, it’s a very old school track, although it’s nearly impossible to overtake in the race.
📸 Oulton is a favourite with British drivers and plays host to a number of series'.
10. What’s your favourite circuit you’ve NOT raced on so far?
I’ve always wanted to drive Bathurst in Australia, it seems like a cool combination of corners and circuit style.
📸 Racing down under does look pretty good when it looks like this!
11. What’s your favourite F1 car ever?
Hard to say one car in particular, I would say the 2005-2008 era of course were the best looking in my opinion, and the racing action was also pretty good.
📸 Racing was pretty good in that era, particularly if you were named Fernando and drove a Renault!
12. Favourite helmet design?
My own of course! Although I’ve always been a fan of Sebastian Vettel’s creativity with multiple designs throughout his career.
📸 Zak's design features some white, black and blue, but always admires Sebastian Vettel who is/was notorious for changing his design.
13. Who’s your racing hero?
Michael Schumacher.
📸 Zero arguments here.
14. How big is the pressure to perform in F3?
There’s definitely some pressure there. It’s a series on an international stage, watched around the world. You want to perform well. There is some extra pressure when you’re part of a F1 driver academy because people expect a certain level of performance.
📸 The hard work is paying off for Zak.
15. What do you do to handle pressure?
I’m quite good at staying calm in this kind of situation. I don’t think much about external pressure or what’s coming up – I focus on the here and now.
📸 Calm.
16. Who did you race against this year who wasn’t given enough credit for their performances, or we haven’t seen the best of yet?
Hard to say, I was more focused on my own performances in all honesty!
17. Do you have any pre-race rituals or routines?
No, not really!
18. If you could pick any driver, past or present, to be your teammate… who would you pick?
Michael Schumacher, it would be interesting to see the difference in style from two separate eras.
📸 Now that would be a test!
19. Are there other series you’d like to race in?
Obviously I’m pretty keen to race in F2 and F1, but any series where racing is my full time job and income is the dream.
📸 F1 is goal, no matter what.
20. As a racing fan, is there anything you collect?
Trophies occasionally.
Huge thanks to Zak for this interview, and a special thanks to Liv Perry for making it happen! I hope to work with both of them again sometime!
📸 Image credit: Formula Motorsport Limited, Williams Racing, GB3 Championship, Sky Sports, Carlin Racing, Alpine, Bathurst, Oulton Park, Aston Martin F1 Team.
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