Formula 2’s youngest current driver is Sauber Academy’s 18-year-old Théo Pourchaire. The French teenager, who turned 18 just last month, is currently sitting 6th in the F2 standings (on 65 points) at the halfway point of the season. At the peak of Formula 1’s ‘silly season’, the youngster is being touted as Alfa Romeo’s possible partner for Valtteri Bottas for the 2022 F1 season.

By Tyler Foster

After winning the ADAC Formula 4 Championship in 2019, Pourchaire has seen a rapid rise to the top of the Formula Junior categories. He finished 2nd in a highly climactic Formula 3 season in 2020, where he lost out on the title to current Formula 2 Championship leader Oscar Piastri by just three points.

Since then he has graduated to the Formula 2 paddock for the current 2021 season. He has been consistently quick throughout the season so far. His highpoint was an outstanding performance in qualifying at Monaco in Round 2 where he got pole position by half a second to his closest rival Oscar Piastri. He managed to convert this pole into a lights to flag victory on the winding streets of the Principality. 

Formula 1

With the Sauber Academy driver being just 18, he is two to three years younger than most rivals in the Formula 2 paddock and has subsequently been linked to the empty seat for Alfa Romeo’s 2022 F1 campaign.

The French youngster was asked on Thursday, when speaking to selected media including F1 Feeder Series, about whether he knew of any speculation regarding his chances. 

“I can’t answer that to be honest. We will see. To be honest I have no idea about my future.”

“I am looking forward to the new tracks and I am looking forward to having a great second half of the season. Maybe I can even earn myself a place in the top category of this sport, in Formula 1. I am really happy to be able to drive in Formula 2 and I want to take this great opportunity.”

“This can probably decide my future. If I do well this weekend already, we will have some idea. Otherwise, I don’t know anything.”

Alfa Romeo

Alfa Romeo Team Principal and Sauber Motorsport CEO, Frédéric Vasseur, has spoken recently to Motorsport Week regarding the empty seat and his intentions to fill it. When asked about Pourchaire’s chances, he said, “I’m considering Théo”. 

“I don’t know if it is for next year or the future. He is part of the family, he is part of the [Sauber] Academy. We are spending a lot of energy on Théo because we are convinced Théo is one of the best ones for the future.”

When asked about receiving praise from the Formula 1 Team Boss, Pourchaire said to Motorsport Week, “He has worked with a number of great drivers in the past and it is my goal to try and reach Formula 1. If it can be through them then that would be nice.”

With Formula 2 action returning to the Temple of Speed in Monza for Round 5/8 this weekend, Pourchaire will have the spotlight upon him to perform in what might be a defining few weeks for his career.

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