At the tender age of 21, Théo Pourchaire was present at the Italian Grand Prix this week with Sauber. The Frenchman serves as a reserve driver for the Swiss Formula 1 team. Pourchaire, who was crowned champion in Formula 2 in 2023, is still waiting for his chance to compete in the premier class. The young driver believes he just needs one opportunity to prove himself.
“Some people say that I only won the championship in my third year, and that might not sound great,” Théo Pourchaire told reporters in Monza. “But one should not forget that I won the title at the age of twenty – I am the youngest race winner in both Formula 2 and Formula 3.” Pourchaire is therefore convinced that he no longer needs to prove himself.
Theo Pourchaire’s Aspirations for Formula 1
“All I need is a chance, that’s all,” he continued. “I sincerely hope that one day I can show what I can do. This sport means everything to me. All I need is a seat and a steering wheel.” Theo Pourchaire is not the first Formula 2 champion who has not yet moved up to Formula 1. His predecessor, Brazilian Felipe Drugovich, is also still waiting for his debut. Of the seven title holders in Formula 2, five have made their debut in the premier class. Only three of them – Charles Leclerc, George Russell, and Oscar Piastri – are still successful in the sport.
List of Formula 2 Champions:
- 2017, Charles Leclerc
- 2018, George Russell
- 2019, Nyck de Vries
- 2020, Mick Schumacher
- 2021, Oscar Piastri
- 2022, Felipe Drugovich
- 2023, Theo Pourchaire
