2021 GB3 champion Zak O’Sullivan made an impressive start to life in the FIA Formula 2 Championship, as he scored points on his series debut in Bahrain.
Starting from fifth on the reverse grid for the Sprint Race on Friday, having qualified sixth fastest on Thursday, the British driver made a strong start to run third early on.
The ART GP driver held off his immediate challengers early on, despite running harder compound tyres compared to the softer options run by the majority of the top-10.
Those on soft rubber managed to shuffle by in the early stages, putting O’Sullivan further down the order, but he benefited late on as the harder tyres gripped into the surface. He climbed up to seventh place across the final couple of laps, despite some frenzied action, claiming two points in his first race.
Kush Maini had qualified on pole, but lost his position due to a technical infringement, relegating him to the back of the grid, though he recovered to 13th at the chequered flag, while fellow GB3 graduate Ollie Bearman took 16th.
The main F2 Feature Race takes place tomorrow (Saturday), with O’Sullivan starting sixth, Bearman 18th and Maini at the back after his disqualification.
The first FIA F3 race of the season featured eight GB3 graduates, with Max Esterson delivering an impressive drive for Jenzer Motorsport, as he claimed sixth place, running as high as third early on.
Alex Dunne was 12th for MP Motorsport, ahead of Christian Mansell in 14th and Luke Browning in 15th. Browning had finished well inside the top-10, courtesy of a spectacular round the outside overtaking move at turn four, where he passed two cars in one go. But he was adjudged to have completed the move with all wheels across the white line, and was penalised with 10 seconds added to his race time.
Reigning GB3 champion Callum Voisin ended his first F3 race in 17th place for Rodin Motorsport, with Cian Shields, Joseph Loake and Tommy Smith running together in 26th, 27th and 28th places, with Loake unlucky to spin while running well inside the midfield.
The second F3 race of the year also takes place tomorrow.