After the first round in Bahrain, Formula 2 season continues in Jeddah. ART GP driver Zak O’Sullivan spoke to selected media, including LWOS.
The British driver started his first F2 season by scoring points in both races. In the Sprint Race, after some difficulties, he finished in seventh position while in the Feature Race he came one step from the podium in fourth place. A quite satisfactory start in F2, but O’Sullivan aims at much higher and Jeddah will be the place to prove it.
A new challenge for the Williams driver
No time to breathe for #F2
Here we go again for another race week 😈🔥
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— ART Grand Prix (@ARTGP) March 4, 2024
2024 is the debut year for O’Sullivan in the F2 championship. New tracks, new race types and, above all, a new car. This is a challenge for all drivers on the grid in 2024, as some key components have been changed. For the rookies, including O’Sullivan, this could be an opportunity to fight for the title against the most experienced drivers in the series. The Briton had already driven the old car in the post-season test in Abu Dhabi. Therefore, he already knew what to expect for the first round of this season. However, there are important differences between the Formula 2 and Formula 3 cars that can affect performance, as Zak O’Sullivan said:
“The main difference is the weigth. The F2 car is quite havier and you can feel it when you’re driving it. The car reacts a bit quickier comapre to F3 and it’s a bit harder to catch sometimes. The way the grip comes to you is quite on and off compare to F3 but it’s not a massive difference in the car. It is quite intuitive and within a few laps you can get up to speed quite quickly”.
The differences between Formula 2 and Formula 3 do not only stop at the car:
“I think the races is where the two champiosnships differ quite more. The Feature Face is a lot longer, two different compounds. I think these are the elemens that, at the begging of the year, the rookies have to learn about but it’s not a massive step”.
The Sprint Race in formula 3 consists of 40 minutes + 1 lap and the grid is made from the 12 positions reversed. In Formula 2 the Sprint Race lasts 45 minutes and the top 10 positions are reversed. There are major differences in the Feature: in Formula 2 they run for 60 minutes and a mandatory pin stop is included, which could upset the result of the race. In Formula 3 the future race lasts 45 minutes + 1 lap, and they have no obligation to stop.
Next stop: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
The Jeddah circuit is one of the fastest and longest in the Formula 2 calendar. It was added in 2021 and has since been the scene of major battles between the drivers. Last year O’Sullivan’s team-mate, Victor Martins, took pole position. However, the Frenchman was forced to retire after a mistake in the Feature Race. O’Sullivan and the other rookies in F2, will find themselves in a completely new circuit where they have never raced.
“In terms of preparation is not very different to any other circuit. We did our block of preparation before Bahrian, lost of laps on the simulator both at ART and at Williams. I’ve just seen it from the Paddock about the track so far. I have not done the track walk yeat but for what I’ve seen, it looks super fun to drive, high speed with the adrenaline that all of us drviers wants. I’m sure I’ll enjoi it.”
Bahrain is very different from Jeddah, which is characterized by a high grip and high speed. O’Sullivan is motivated to improve Bahrain’s results and to prove his skills in the Arabian circuit.
