In a shocking turn of events, Zak O’Sullivan, one of the brightest talents in Formula 2, has been forced to drop out of the championship—despite an incredible season that included victories in Monaco and Belgium. His exit from the series highlights a growing crisis in motorsport: the rising costs of competition are driving out talented drivers, especially those from working-class backgrounds.
O’Sullivan’s plight is not an isolated incident. It mirrors the struggles of countless aspiring racers whose dreams are dashed not by a lack of talent, but by the astronomical costs of competing. As Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton passionately pointed out, motorsport is increasingly becoming a playground for the wealthy, leaving behind those who can’t secure deep-pocketed sponsors or billionaire backers.
“People from my background aren’t getting here because it’s too expensive,” Hamilton stated bluntly during an interview at the Baku City Circuit. “It’s crazy expensive.” Reflecting on his own journey to F1, Hamilton admitted that without the financial support of McLaren and Mercedes, he wouldn’t have made it. Now, as costs continue to spiral, he fears the situation is becoming even worse for the next generation of racers.
The stark reality of this financial burden is evident in O’Sullivan’s case. Despite his exceptional rookie season in Formula 2, a series that traditionally serves as a launching pad to Formula 1, the young British driver couldn’t finish the year. His statement of gratitude to ART GP and Williams Racing carried the weight of a shattered dream: “This year we had some incredible moments… Unfortunately, in our sport, there are more factors at play than just winning races.”
O’Sullivan’s downfall underscores a larger trend in motorsport—one where money increasingly trumps merit. With the financial barriers to entry reaching stratospheric levels, even drivers who succeed on the track are finding it impossible to sustain their careers without major backing. The situation is so dire that even Hamilton, who scraped through in a different era, is calling for radical reform.
Hamilton didn’t stop at the cost issue. He also expressed concern over the education of young karting drivers, revealing that some are skipping school entirely to focus on racing. This, he warned, could have disastrous consequences for the vast majority who never make it to F1. “Kids aren’t going to school anymore… I think it’s important that they continue to have something to fall back on,” he said, advocating for the FIA to implement rules ensuring young drivers remain in education while pursuing their racing careers.
The financial strain isn’t limited to the junior levels of motorsport. Alpine’s Pierre Gasly, who debuted in French F4 in 2011 and later made it to F1, echoed Hamilton’s concerns. He pointed out that the rising costs are squeezing out potential stars long before they can even reach the top tiers of the sport. “It starts already from karting. How many people can pay that much for a 10 or 11-year-old?” Gasly asked, urging for urgent action to address the cost crisis.
Gasly, like Hamilton, is part of a generation that managed to make it through when sponsorships could still cover the growing financial demands. But today, with hyperinflation and rising costs across the globe, securing the necessary funding has become a near-impossible feat for many. “I had very good friends in karting who were very talented but ultimately stopped after Formula 4 because they could not afford the prices moving up,” Gasly lamented.
For now, the motorsport world watches in frustration as stories like Zak O’Sullivan’s become increasingly common. Talented drivers are sidelined not by a lack of skill, but by the escalating financial burdens that have made the sport nearly unattainable for all but the wealthiest.
As costs continue to skyrocket and young drivers face impossible barriers, motorsport is at risk of becoming a sport exclusively for the elite—unless real action is taken to make the playing field more accessible.
