In Profile: Zak O’Sullivan

Get to know Carlin British rookie Zak O’Sullivan a little better with an inside look at the Williams junior’s biggest achievements, racing heroes and favourite tracks.

DATE OF BIRTH: 06/02/2005 NATIONALITY: British 2021 TEAM: Carlin In Profile: Zak O'Sullivan

WHERE DID YOU GROW UP?

"I grew up in London and lived there until I was around eight-years-old. London is a pretty bustling vibrant city, and I really enjoyed my time there, at least what I remember of it. I probably took it a bit for granted. When I was eight, we moved to just outside of Cheltenham and that is where we still live now.

“It was a pretty drastic change of scenery: we are in the hills and the countryside. It was quite nice to wake up every morning and see some sheep around us, though – it was certainly different to London. We went from one extreme to the other.”

EARLIEST RACING MEMORY?

"Silverstone in 2008, when Lewis (Hamilton) won in the wet. I think I slept through most of it, but I do remember some of the bits when I was awake - it was a very wet day and I remember all of the spray."

RACING STYLE

"A tough one to answer: aggressive when I need to be, calculated when I don’t.

“It depends on the situation, truly. In British F4, I needed to be pretty aggressive because I was second in the Championship and trying to gain to the leader, whereas in GB3, I was more conservative because I was the leader and I had a bit of a cushion. Adaptability is key. I think I am able to do that."

RACING HERO

"In and out of motorsport, it would be Michael Schumacher. Growing up, I was a bit of a Ferrari fan, I liked watching the red cars on the TV.

“More than anything, it was the way that he revolutionised the sport from the 90s to the early 2000s with his training regimes and how serious he was on and off the track. That, and the fact he would do anything to win. It was inspiring, and even to this day, I look up to him."

BIGGEST RACING ACHIEVEMENT

"Winning the Aston Martin Autosport BRDC Award for 2021. It was very cool: I spent two days at Silverstone, and I was against two other drivers, Jonny Edgar and Ollie Bearman. It was a once in a lifetime experience. I enjoyed being able to jump between so many different cars.”

BEST PART OF BEING A RACING DRIVER

“The travel. For the past two years, I have been racing in the UK, so it hasn't applied, whereas this year, we are going to lots of places, like Bahrain for example, which is somewhere I never thought I would get to go, so that is very cool.

“We will be going to some cool places this year. From a human point of view, off track, I am really looking forward to it. When time allows, I will try and explore a bit.”

HOW DO YOU RELAX AWAY FROM RACING?

I “am either at school or on the sim. I would say sim racing is my way of relaxing. As long as I am doing well, I am relaxed. If I am not, I can get a bit angry.

“I know it doesn't sound very relaxing to go from racing at a track to racing virtually, but for me, it is the easiest way to switch off."

FAVOURITE TRACK ON THE F3 CALENDAR

“This is going to sound predictable, but Silverstone. Not just because it is my home circuit, but because I actually really enjoy it. It is a cool circuit, with its high-speed nature. I always prefer a high-speed circuit and Silverstone is one of those. The atmosphere there on an F1 weekend is always pretty electric and I am looking forward to that."