After ending his 2022 Formula Two campaign as runner up, Théo Pourchaire eventually put everyone's minds to rest and confirmed that he will again appear on the Formula 2 grid in 2023. And, after what was a very turbulent 2022 season for the Frenchman, could he be the one to watch this upcoming year?
It's no secret that Pourchaire quite enjoys it at the front of the field. With numerous karting championships to his name, he has also finished in the top two drivers in four out of the five full championships he has contested in single seaters since 2018.
However, as easy as it looks on paper, it hasn't always been plain sailing for the youngster. In 2018, his young age prevented him from being eligible for the main French F4 championship but that didn't stop him from being crowned Junior Champion. Also, as with many a racing driver, Pourchaire has made mistakes here and there. And, not to mention mechanical problems? Yes, that hindered him considerably in 2022. Oh, what could have been.
Pourchaire goes into 2023 in a strong position. Not only is he staying in a championship that he nearly won, he's staying with the same team that gave him the "Vice Champion" status; ART Grand Prix. A prestigious team in the world of junior single seater series. They're very capable of handing Théo another championship.
2022 has also been kind to the driver from Grasse, France in the sense that he has been able to broaden his experiences, edging him ever so closer to a seat in Formula One. As a member of the Sauber Junior Team, Pourchaire found himself as the test driver for Alfa Romeo F1 Team, making his Formula One debut in Free Practice One at that year's USA Grand Prix before participating in the post season tests again with Alfa Romeo.
But F1 were not the only ones eyeing up Théo. Earlier in 2022 he had the opportunity to test the newly debuted Formula E Gen3 car saying that it was "very good and very fast." A potential seat in Formula E was on the cards for the Frenchman in 2023 with Nissan. However, this never came to fruition. As did the Super Formula test over in Suzuka, Japan that Pourchaire was lined up to do. Instead it was back to something more familiar; Formula 2.
Could there be more to this than meets the eye?
Well, quite possibly.
Pourchaire see's himself with a promotion in 2023 when he takes on the role of reserve driver at Alfa Romeo. A role that will need him to be ever more present over the course of an F1 weekend. In that regards, his continuation in F2 just makes sense. And, with Alfa Romeo splitting with Sauber and leaving the sport at the end of 2023, this could leave the door open for Pourchaire in 2024 thanks to his Sauber backing.
With that in mind, Pourchaire will be pushing like mad this year. With the grudge of missing out on the 2022 F2 crown and with a potential F1 seat for 2024; he HAS to deliver in 2023. Could it be now or never?
Personally, I'm looking forward to seeing what he can achieve. He deserves a future in the pinnacle of motorsport that is F1 and with a potential F2 crown to add surely he has to be signed somewhere? Well, I guess for now it's a waiting game.
Formula 2 will back racing on Saturday 4th March in Bahrain. I cannot wait. It's going to be good.
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