F1 News, Reports and Race Results

Pourchaire rules out staying in F2 as F1 speculation grows

ART driver Théo Pourchaire says he won't return to Formula 2 next year regardless of the outcome of his current close battle with MP Motorsport's Felipe Drugovich over this year's title.

That's sparked speculation that Sauber protege Pourchaire might be heading to Formula 1, either as a reserve driver or possibly in a full-time race seat in 2023.

It's my last FIA F2 season, that's for sure," he told France Racing website last week. "I won't do another season. Financially, it won't be possible. It's not a good solution. Two seasons in a championship is enough for a driver."

Pourchaire is currently in second place in this year's F2 drivers standings, 21 points behind Drugovich with 12 races over four weekends remaining. If he were to win the title, he wouldn't be eligible to race in F2 again in 2023.

He made his series debut in Bahrain at the end of 2020 with BWT HWA RACELAB, and has gone on to claim five wins (three this season) as well as a maiden pole position at Monaco in 2021.

Pourchaire is affiliated to Sauber’s young driver programme and well regarded by team boss Frederic Vasseur, putting him at the head of the line for a potential F1 seat at Alfa Romeo alongside Valtteri Bottas should the team decide not to renew Zhou Guanyu's contract.

Although Zhou has helped bring in significant sponsorship money as China's first F1 driver, his results have not been stellar so far. He's clinched just five points scored compared to Bottas’ 46.

But as one of the most promising French talents competing in junior championships at the moment, he's also been linked with a place at Alpine alongside compatriot Esteban Ocon now that Fernando Alonso and Oscar Piastri are no longer in the picture.

The French team could be keen to become a flag-waving national squad, but could still opt to snap up Daniel Ricciardo to fill their vacant seat before they start casting around for alternatives.

Pourchaire insisted that any such concerns are very far from his mind at the moment. "I don't think about F1 at all!" he stated. "It's still a dream for me.

"I'm happy to be racing in FIA F2 already. When I look back on my career and where I come from, I think that racing in FIA F2 is already great.

"I'll see. Maybe one day I'll have the opportunity, maybe I won't," he said. "It's better this way, I stay focused on my FIA F2 season. If there is the opportunity, I will seize it."

©AlfaRomeo

With teams obliged to allow young rookie drivers to participate in two Friday free practice sessions in 2022, Pourchaire is hoping that a spot might open up in the remaining nine Grand Prix weekends.

But with reserve driver Robert Kubica having taken two FP1 spots already, it's far from a sure thing. "I don't know if I'll drive in free practice," acknowledged.

But having drawn a line under his time in F2, what will the 18-year-old opt to do next season if there's no place at the F1 inn?

"If I don't go to F1, I don't know what I will do," he admitted. "It's a good question. We haven't thought about that with my team. We'll see.

"There may be several opportunities. I still have four race weekends in FIA F2, that's all I know. The rest, we'll see."

Gallery: The beautiful wives and girlfriends of F1 drivers

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter

Andrew Lewin

Andrew first became a fan of Formula 1 during the time when Michael Schumacher and Damon Hill were stepping into the limelight after the era of Alain Prost, Nigel Mansell and Aryton Senna. He's been addicted ever since, and has been writing about the sport now for nearly a quarter of a century for a number of online news sites. He's also written professionally about GP2 (now Formula 2), GP3, IndyCar, World Rally Championship, MotoGP and NASCAR. In his other professional life, Andrew is a freelance writer, social media consultant, web developer/programmer, and digital specialist in the fields of accessibility, usability, IA, online communities and public sector procurement. He worked for many years in magazine production at Bauer Media, and for over a decade he was part of the digital media team at the UK government's communications department. Born and raised in Essex, Andrew currently lives and works in south-west London.

Recent Posts

Leclerc confident Ferrari ‘has a shot’ at F1 Constructors’ title

Charles Leclerc believes that Ferrari has a genuine “shot” at beating rival McLaren to Formula…

1 hour ago

Komatsu: F1 teams united against Audi 2026 cost-cap offset

Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu has revealed that nine Formula 1 teams stand in opposition…

2 hours ago

Las Vegas GP: Hamilton leads Mercedes 1-2 in trouble-free FP1

Lewis Hamilton and George Russell led the field in a chilly but trouble-free first practice…

3 hours ago

2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix Free Practice 1 - Results

Full results from Free Practice 1 for the Las Vegas Grand Prix in the United…

4 hours ago

Aston Martin says performance shortfall led to Fallows exit

Aston Martin performance director Tom McCullough has shed some light on why the team’s former…

13 hours ago

FIA clamps down on plank loophole after Red Bull complaint

The FIA has issued a pivotal Technical Directive to F1 teams ahead of this weekend’s…

14 hours ago