Alfa Romeo F1 test and reserve driver Theo Pourchaire is the senior driver in the newly-announced Sauber Academy driver line-up for 2023, overseen by Sauber Motorsport sporting director Beat Zehnder.
Last year's Formula 2 championship runner-up has been part of the Academy since it was founded in 2019 and is the only member to have kept his place in the line-up for the new season.
He'll be joined this year by Marcus Amand (currently racing in the Formula Regional European Championship), Léna Bühler (Formula 4 UAE) and karting star Taym Saleh.
Former graduates of the Sauber Academy - which helps young drivers competing in junior categories on the road to F1 - include Callum Ilott, Arthur Leclerc, Juan Manuel Correa and Emerson Fittipaldi Jr.
Pourchaire made his F1 weekend debut last year at the Circuit of the Americas, sitting in for Valtteri Bottas in Free Practice 1 for the United States GP, before being subsequently confirmed as Alfa's official reserve driver for 2023.
“Being part of the Sauber Academy is a massive opportunity for me, and I am thankful for that,” the 19-year-old French driver commented.
“I wouldn’t be where I am right now, and I wouldn’t have had the chances I was given without their support," said Pourchaire, who currently holds the record for being the youngest race winner in both F2 and F3.
"I feel part of a great family and a great team, which gives me a further push to obtain the best possible results."
As well as his F1 reserve role, Pourchaire will stay with ART to take another shot at the F2 title after missing out last year to Felipe Drugovich who was in dominant form with MP Motorsport.
“This year will be a busy one, splitting my time between Formula 2 and my reserve driver duties," he acknowledged. "But I am ready and motivated for the challenge.”
Zehnder commented that: "Theo’s growth and development ever since he joined have been a source of great pride for us, including his promotion to being one of our F1 team’s official reserve drivers.
©AlfaRomeo
“Discovering and nurturing young talent has always been at the centre of Sauber Motorsport’s philosophy, with the ultimate aim of raising the champions of tomorrow,” he continued.
“Sauber Academy’s 2023 roster is very promising, and I am looking forward to working with each of the drivers."
Zehnder said that he was "delighted to welcome Lena, Marcus, and Taym to the Academy", and added: "We cannot wait to get started and unlock their potential further together.
“We will be by their side in the next steps of their careers, providing them with the tools, the education and the resources needed to succeed in the world of motorsport:
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