FORMULA ONE hopeful Zak O’Sullivan has been forced to call time on his maiden Formula 2 season due to funding issues.

The 19-year-old, from Withington, near Cirencester, has often spoken of the “eye-watering” amounts of money required to fund a seat in the championship, which is the final rung on the junior single-seater ladder before Formula One.

Despite some impressive results, including a memorable feature race win at Monaco and a sprint race victory in Belgium, the Williams Racing junior has been unable to secure enough sponsorship for the final three rounds of the season.

Zak’s thoughts now switch to 2025 and trying to raise funds to return to the Formula 2 grid.

The 19-year-old’s stellar career has already seen him crowned Aston Martin BRDC Young Driver of the Year in 2021, GB3 champion in 2021 and Formula 3 vice-champion in 2023. He made his Formula One debut driving for Williams in practice for the 2023 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

This season, he has more than matched the performances of his ART Grand Prix team-mate Victor Martins – the 2023 F2 rookie of the year – but admitted there were “more factors at play than just the stopwatch.”

He said: “This is a highly expensive sport to compete in and unfortunately, there are more factors at play than just the stopwatch.

“As a family, we have worked tirelessly fundraising and engaging with sponsors, but in the end it simply wasn’t enough.

"I’m gutted to miss out on the opportunity to showcase my talents for the rest of the year but unfortunately in our sport, it simply comes down to funding.

“I want to say a big thank you to all the sponsors who have come onboard, Williams Racing, ART Grand Prix and all the supporters who are alongside me on this journey, a journey which sadly I’m unable to complete this time.

"Your support has been invaluable, and I can’t wait to be able to drive for you, and with you again soon.

“I’m already looking to 2025 and if we can raise the funds I will be back on the grid, and in a team where I can really showcase my driving. I’ve been racing competitively since I was eight years old, and I don’t want this to be the end of my racing career. I want to fight back and will do everything in my power to return to the grid in 2025.

“I need local businesses to come onboard so anyone who can help, no matter how big or small, I would love to hear from you. It’s said that motorsport is a rich man’s game – with your help I’d very much like to challenge that.”

Kieren Clark, founder of Kokoro Performance and Zak’s driver coach, said: “I have worked with many drivers during my career as a coach and I know Zak has all the attributes required to succeed at the very highest level of motorsport.

“His understanding of both the mental and physical demands of the sport is impressive for someone so young and I have every confidence he will succeed in Formula 2 and beyond if he can find the funds to compete in 2025.”

Any businesses interested in offering support to Zak should email ali@zakosullivan.com.