Théo Pourchaire has just finished his season in style: he won the F2 championship, thanks to a great performance during the last race of the season in the United Arab Emirates this Sunday.
He was aiming for the title of vice-world champion last year, as he told us during an interview. He finished a year later on the highest step of the podium: Théo Pourchaire had just won the Formula 2 world championship in Abu Dhabi.
At the finish of a competitive race, the young Grasse man had difficulty hiding his emotion. With tears in his voice, still behind the wheel of his Alfa Romeo, he declared: “I am proud, I love you all”
Théo Pourchaire was however poorly started on the starting grid. Fifth at the finish, the ART GP driver, leader of the championship before the 14th and final round of 2023, finished behind his last rival for the title, Frederik Vesti (Prema), 3rd. A place which is enough for him to maintain his lead for the title.
“It was a complicated weekend (…) you can sometimes see me in difficulty, but I never give up, I wanted to win this title,” reacted the 20-year-old from Grasse on arrival, who won his first title in F2.
He immediately received congratulations from his mayor, Jérôme Viaud. “It’s an entire region that is proud of you” declared the elected official on
Pourchaire, who succeeds the Brazilian Felipe Drugovich, has scored ten podiums this season (sprints and main races combined) – including only one victory, as well as five pole positions.
On the French list, he succeeds Pierre Gasly, currently in F1, titled in 2016 in the GP2 category (which became Formula 2 in 2017).
The protégé of the Sauber Academy, the academy for young Alfa Romeo drivers currently in Formula 1, was competing in his third season in F2 this year. According to the regulations in force, the crowned driver in F2 is not authorized to participate in the championship for the two seasons following his title.
Next year, Pourchaire will retain his role as reserve driver in F1 for Alfa Romeo which will change its name since Sauber announced the end of its partnership with its title sponsor at the end of the year. The new team name has not yet been announced.