Photo: Alfa Romeo
Alfa Romeo Racing has provided an update on where Theo Pourchaire could race next year alongside his Formula 1 reserve driver duties.
Pourchaire leads the Formula 2 standings ahead of the title decider at Yas Marina Circuit in two weeks’ time, and should he become champion he would not be allowed to return to the series for a fourth season.
Sauber – the operating company behind the Alfa Romeo F1 team and which Pourchaire has been a junior of since 2019 – gave Pourchaire the reserve driver job for this year as well as fully funding his F2 campaign. In September it announced he would retain his F1 role for 2024, and shortly after Alfa Romeo team representative Alessandro Alunni Bravi revealed Pourchaire may have a “racing programme” too.
That idea is more firmly set in stone with the team “now looking” for a series Pourchaire can compete in “to keep [in] racing shape” should he need to be called up to race in F1. Alunni Bravi gave the latest update at last weekend’s Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
“Super Formula is one opportunity for sure. It’s important for drivers targeting F1 to race in a single-seater category, if possible. And we know that SF, together with F2, is the closest feeder category with a good cornering speed. So of course, this is an opportunity, but we need to evaluate many, many other elements.”
The only other top-level open-wheel series with available seats is IndyCar, but the length of its calendar means a full-time programme there would be impposible to undertake alongside F1 commitments.
Alunni Bravi also clarified that Pourchaire will indeed drive in practice at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, which the F2 finale supports. Pourchaire was announced as being in one of Alfa Romeo’s cars for the opening practice session of the Mexico City and Abu Dhabi grands prix, but after his Mexico outing the team’s racing director Xevi Pujolar said “we have got another young driver session to do later in the season but we still haven’t decided who will be driving for that session”.
“Of course [he will be back in the car],” said Alunni Bravi. “Please let me pay tribute to him, because he was expecting this FP1 session all the year, and he wasn’t able to complete any laps there in Mexico, because of an issue we had on the car. And he remained calm also on the radio, he gave the right indications: precise and concise messages to the team.
“So, first of all, for me it was positive, this experience for him. He showed to be mature. He will have another opportunity, of course, in Abu Dhabi, the second FP1 session and also the rookie test.”
Another young driver getting ready to race at the top level is Kyffin Simpson. The Chip Ganassi Racing development driver has been promoted to an IndyCar seat for 2024, and his preparations have included a Cadillac hypercar test in the World Endurance Championship and private tests in F2, Formula Renault 3.5 and Indy cars.