ART Grand Prix driver Zak O’Sullivan expressed his satisfaction after qualifying in 10th position at Spa-Francorchamps, navigating what he described as a “tricky” qualifying session. This result places him on pole position for the Sprint Race, offering a strong opportunity to pursue his second victory of the Formula 2 season.
O’Sullivan’s journey through the session was not straightforward. After his initial run on the second set of soft tyres, he found himself down in P15. However, a determined effort on his subsequent lap, marked by the fastest first sector, propelled him up the order to P10. This crucial improvement secured him the reverse grid pole for Saturday’s Sprint Race and significantly enhanced his chances for a points-scoring finish in the Feature Race. O’Sullivan conveyed his delight with the outcome, especially considering the challenges both he and the team have been facing in recent rounds.
“Yeah, it was quite a tricky quali as always at Spa,” O’Sullivan acknowledged. “Managing the slipstream is always a critical aspect here. You’re constantly balancing how close to get to the car ahead in sector one to gain an advantage, while also ensuring a clean sector two. It’s a delicate balance, but it wasn’t bad today.” He added, “P10 in the end, and a pretty good last lap which fortunately secured that position and pole for tomorrow. Overall, I’m quite happy. We’ve been struggling slightly for pace in the last few events, so it’s rewarding to extract something positive from this session.”
Zak O'Sullivan in action for ART Grand Prix during a demanding Formula 2 qualifying session at Spa-Francorchamps. Navigating the tricky conditions at the Spa circuit, O'Sullivan secured a crucial top 10 finish, highlighting the complexities of racing at this iconic venue, often referred to by fans as a 'tricky spa com' situation.
O’Sullivan further elaborated on the unique difficulties of qualifying at Spa-Francorchamps, noting that the strategic considerations and challenges encountered today will also be prevalent at Monza in the upcoming Round 11. He explained, “It’s always the same at Spa because everyone is vying for a slipstream. We anticipate similar scenarios at Monza after the summer break, as any track where slipstreaming is beneficial tends to see drivers bunching up in sector three.”
He continued, “But that’s part of the inherent fun and complexity, what some might call the ‘Tricky Spa Com’ element, of qualifying on a track so dependent on slipstreaming. We probably had a slightly smoother experience than F3 based on their qualifying session, but it is what it is. It’s just part of the strategic game when qualifying on a slipstream-dependent circuit.”
Addressing the ongoing performance challenges with the car, O’Sullivan emphasized that securing a top 10 result was particularly valuable as the team continues to work diligently to identify and resolve the underlying issues. Looking ahead to the race weekend, he expressed cautious optimism for achieving strong results, starting with the Sprint Race. However, he also acknowledged the ever-present unpredictability of the weather at Spa-Francorchamps.
“We’ll have to wait and see what the rest of the weekend holds,” O’Sullivan concluded. “The weather here is always a wildcard. Last I checked, there was a possibility of rain tomorrow. Starting from pole at Spa can be challenging due to the slipstream effect into Turn 1, but I’ll definitely be pushing hard to try and secure a win.”