Formula 3 and Williams Academy driver Zak O’Sullivan has announced he’ll be participating in an F1 test for Aston Martin later this month.
The seventeen-year-old British driver from Cheltenham has revealed through Autosport Magazine that he will be testing for Formula 1’s Aston Martin. Zak O’Sullivan earned the chance after winning the 2021 Aston Martin Autosport BRDC Award.
The BRDC awards were first created in 1990 by Autosport Magazine. Its aim was to find and assist young British drivers. O’Sullivan took home the prestigious award after dominating the 2021 GB3 championship where he won by 154 points over fellow Brit Ayrton Simmons. As well as winning an F1 test with Aston Martin, he also earned a £200,000 prize, a full British Racing Drivers’ Club membership, as well as an Arai helmet – all on his seventeen birthday.
Having spent the 2022 season participating in his maiden Formula 3 season for Carlin, O’Sullivan consistently outperformed his car. He earned one pole position and two podiums, finishing eleventh in the standings ahead of both teammates Brad Benavides and Enzo Trulli.
that was a good start to the day!
🏆 nice job @ZakOSullivan 🏆
P3 and a podium in the @FIAFormula3 Sprint Race this morning in Zandvoort #F3 #Zandvoort pic.twitter.com/0vV7EPmQTZ
— Rodin Motorsport (@RodinMotorsport) September 3, 2022
After completing a seat-fit last month for Aston Martin as well as doing simulator work. O’Sullivan is also a Williams Academy driver and has attended a few F1 races as well as having practiced on their simulator.
The 2022 BRDC nominations are Ollie Bearman (FIA F3 winner), Jamie Chadwick (W-Series Champion), Luke Browning (GB3 Champion), and Louis Foster (Indy Pro 2000 Champion). The winner will be announced next year.
2023
Zak O’Sullivan recently took part in the Formula 3 post-season testing where he switched to PREMA. He revealed during his article that he would be participating in another season of Formula 3 despite being given the opportunity to step up into Formula 2.
“Initially, F2 was the plan for next year but something changed last-minute so now it’s F3 again.”
PREMA has announced Paul Aron as one of three of their drivers for the 2023 season. Two more spots are yet to be filled, but the likely candidates are O’Sullivan and FREC Championship leader Dino Beganovic – all of whom represented PREMA in the test.
