Williams sporting director Sven Smeets has hinted funding had not been solely behind Zak O’Sullivan’s ART departure in Components 2, after he was changed by fellow Williams junior Luke Browning.
O’Sullivan introduced following the Monza occasion that he would not be completing his rookie campaign, citing funding points as the explanation to be stepping away.
Changing him at ART was Browning, who completed third in F3 this time period and had been within the championship combine into the ultimate race.
Talking completely to Autosport, Smeets hinted that funding had not been solely responsible for two-time race winner O’Sullivan’s sudden ART departure.
“Between Zak and ART, that is a private subject,” he stated. “We now have nothing to do with that.
“I can verify, although, that Zak remains to be within the Academy, so Zak has not left the Academy.
“We now should see, within the subsequent few months, what we’ll do collectively. The ball may also be within the courtroom of Zak’s administration a bit. For the remainder, I can not actually elaborate on that and it is extra of a query to them, what occurred with ART.”
Zak O’Sullivan, ART Grand Prix
Picture by: Components Motorsport Ltd
Pressed on whether or not Williams may have supplied extra help to fill O’Sullivan’s price range shortfall, Smeets added: “That is all the time a troublesome query. There are agreements in place, and naturally, I can’t elaborate on that.
“Between them and ART one thing occurred, and that was the conclusion ART drew from that. They ultimately stated: we can’t proceed with one another.
“However, as I stated, Zak remains to be within the Williams household. We’ll proceed with one another and till the top of the 12 months, he’s with us.”
Browning set for Hitech 2025 F2 seat
O’Sullivan’s exit got here on the excellent second for Browning, who joined fellow F3 drivers Gabriele Mini and Christian Mansell in making his F2 debut on the Baku streets, an opportunity that got here because of his Williams hyperlinks.
“I believe ART was involved with a number of folks,” stated Smeets. “However they stated: ‘look, this 12 months the concept was to do that with Williams as nicely’, partly. In order that they then gave the chance to Luke.”
The transfer to ART resulted in Browning switching away from Hitech, the group with which the Briton has raced for throughout the previous three years.
Luke Browning, Hitech Pulse-Eight, 1st place, on the rostrum
Picture by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Photos
As per Smeets, nonetheless, this union will likely be re-established in 2025, when Browning will make the full-time step as much as F2 with Hitech.
“For him, after all, it is nice to arrange for subsequent 12 months as a result of he is going to stick with Hitech for F2,” stated Smeets.
“There are three circuits arising he does not know from F3. I stated to him: ‘The extra kilometres you are able to do, the higher,’ as a result of that is the build-up in direction of subsequent 12 months.”
Whereas this has not been confirmed by both the group or driver, Autosport understands Hitech intends to announce its line-up following the season’s finish in December.
