What it's really like to try to make it to F1
Unfortunately for most, that dream doesn't work out. It takes immense talent to make it to the top, but even the most gifted are likely to face financial obstacles on the way. On Thursday, BBC Sport explored just how much money it takes for a young driver to get to F1, from karting via Formula 4, the Formula Regional European Championship (Freca), Formula 3 and Formula 2.
We have spoken to two British drivers who have been on the path to F1 to hear what it is really like to attempt to climb that ladder. Former Williams Academy driver Zak O'Sullivan was forced to drop out of the 2024 Formula 2 season partway through because of funding issues. O'Sullivan, who started racing when he was eight, says he does not "plead poverty", adding: "I'm from a wealthy family, but not to the extent to spend millions and millions, year on year, to make it to F1.
"I think anyone who competes in motorsport up to F3 level is clearly from a wealthy background because it's impossible otherwise. " O'Sullivan, who grew up near Cheltenham, won the 2021 GB3 Championship (equivalent to British F3), and on his 17th birthday was named the Autosport BRDC Young Driver of the Year. , external He then moved on to the FIA Formula 3 Championship, where he finished 11th in 2022, his rookie season, and was runner-up in 2023.
O'Sullivan secured a seat in Formula 2 for 2024, where he competed against current F1 drivers Kimi Antonelli, Isack Hadjar, Oliver Bearman, Gabriel Bortoleto and Franco Colapinto. He won the Monaco feature race and Belgian sprint race but, despite his success, he was forced to drop out of the championship with three races to go. "Without Williams' support when I initially went into Formula 3, it would have been very, very difficult for me to even do one season," the 21-year-old said.
Despite being in the Williams Driver Academy, he was expected to cover part of the costs himself. "Williams were very aware of my financial struggles," he said. "Of course, they only contribute a certain amount to my season and that came very early in the year, as is quite normal.