Pourchaire finds the promotion of Colapinto, Bearman, and Antonelli to F1 unfair
The young 2023 F2 champion is struggling to secure a seat in Formula 1 and reproaches that drivers who have not won the title in the intermediate series are being given a chance.
Yet crowned champion in Formula 2 last year, Théo Pourchaire, like his predecessor Felipe Drugovich, seems to be at a standstill in reaching the top category. The last F2 champion to successfully transition to F1 is Australian Oscar Piastri, now a driver at McLaren.
Although he is one of the candidates for the seat at Sauber in 2025, the Frenchman does not appear as the favorite compared to the more experienced Valtteri Bottas.
An uncertain future
Théo Pourchaire did not fail to express his bitterness at the choices of the various teams to give a chance to drivers who have not won the F2 championship. Franco Colapinto, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, and Ollie Bearman will all join the F1 circus next year, a decision that hurts the French driver. From the outside, it’s for sure, if you are in my position, it seems unfair, as I think it’s unfair for Drugovich for example, who won the title, and… you know that’s how it is. It’s the world of F1.
Pourchaire adds that he doesn’t really know how to proceed to have a chance in F1. He thinks he has already proven that he deserves a seat in the top category. “I gave my best on the track. There are surely people who say that winning the championship in the third year of F2 is not very good, but I won it at 20 years old. I am the youngest race winner in F2, in F3 history, so I have nothing to prove on the track. I just need an opportunity. That’s all.”
A Turbulent Journey through IndyCar
As he had started the 2024 season in Super Formula in Japan, the French driver abandoned the series after only one race to join IndyCar with Arrow McLaren. He replaced David Malukas who got injured during the second round of the championship in Long Beach, and was called to continue the season alongside the British team.
Excluded from the Indianapolis 500, he was finally replaced by Nigel Siegel after just four races, only to return in July for a single race in Toronto, due to an injury to Alexander Rossi.
A tumultuous adventure then, but Théo Pourchaire still showed gratitude for this opportunity. This championship is truly impressive. The entire IndyCar community has been very kind to me: the drivers, the championship organizers, the members of all the teams, you know, upon seeing that you are a driver from Europe, Formula 2 champion. Going to IndyCar was very positive for everyone there, and very positive for me too, because I really enjoyed the car, I really liked the tracks and the battles, everything was very, very good. I enjoyed my time there,” he confessed.
The future of the French driver remains uncertain. With a lack of support from sponsors, he acknowledges that this is a barrier to accessing the best championships, including Formula 1. “I am at a point where I don’t have major sponsors following me. I don’t have money to put on the table. I have to be honest. So I’m just a Formula 2 champion, you know, trying to find something to do right now. I’m just looking for a seat. So, as I said, right now I’m looking for something.”
