While motorsport can be thrilling and full of action and drama on and off the track, it can also be incredibly cruel in more ways than one.
The most common issue in motorsport is down to funding because, unsurprisingly, it is not cheap to be a racing driver.
To reach the pinnacle of motorsport in Formula 1, the entries fees vary per team. For example, driving for the defending champions Red Bull will cost an estimated $7.5 million, or roughly £5.7 million.
Unfortunately, funding issues are common, particularly in junior categories as even the most talented drivers fall victim to not being able to provide the finances needed to race.
And as Formula 2 heads to Baku for round 12 of the championship, one of its talents has departed the grid for that exact reason.
Formula 2 drivers share messages to Zak O’Sullivan after ART Grand Prix exit
Announcing on social media on Sunday evening, Zak O’Sullivan revealed that he would be forced to pull out of the rest of the Formula 2 campaign due to a funding issue.
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O’Sullivan had enjoyed a successful junior career, finishing second in British F4 and winning the GB3 Championship in 2021.
This title earned him a place in the Williams Driver Academy as he made the step up to Formula 3 in 2022. O’Sullivan made his first F1 appearance the next year in FP1 at the season finale in Abu Dhabi and finished runner-up in the F3 championship that season to Gabriel Bortoleto.
The 19-year-old was driving with ART Grand Prix in his debut F2 campaign in 2024, where he won the Feature Race in Monaco and the Sprint Race at Spa. O’Sullivan was 13th in the standings heading into Baku.
But the Brit’s campaign has to come to an end early, and on his post on his Instagram account announcing the news, some of his fellow F2 competitors offered messages of support to O’Sullivan.
Trident driver Richard Verschoor was disappointed with the news as he left a face with steam from nose emoji, as well as a praying emoji as he wrote: “Head up mate.”
AIX Racing’s Joshua Durksen said: “Keep pushing mate! So sad to hear that. I hope to see you back soon.”
Camps Racing driver Pepe Marti was quick to mention O’Sullivan’s success in F2 with his brilliant Monaco win, as the Spaniard wrote: “Chin up mate, Monaco GP winner no one can take that away.”
READ MORE: How Oliver Bearman and Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s F2 rivals feel amid F1 opportunities
Who will ART Grand Prix choose to replace Zak O’Sullivan?
ART Grand Prix are yet to confirm O’Sullivan’s replacement for the final three rounds of the season at Baku, Qatar and Abu Dhabi.
It could be that the French outfit will decide to promote from within. PREMA Racing will bring up 2024 F3 runner-up Gabriele Mini to replace Oliver Bearman for Baku, who will drive for Haas in place of the suspended Kevin Magnussen.
With Christian Mansell replacing Roman Stanek at Trident for the remainder of the year, Nikola Tsolov could be a potential option for ART, having won three races in F3 this season.
Whoever the team decide to bring in, fans and drivers will be hoping to see O’Sullivan back on the F2 grid soon.