Alfa Romeo team principal Frédéric Vasseur has confirmed that Théo Pourchaire is in consideration for a seat at Alfa Romeo as early as 2022.
Written by Andrew Lwanga, edited by Tanishka Vashee
Vassuer’s comments were quoted earlier in the week and since then current Alfa Romeo driver and 2007 world champion has announced his retirement from Formula 1. This in turn confirms the availability of a seat at Alfa Romeo.
Pourchaire who currently competes in Formula 2 and is a member of the Sauber Junior Programme. The Frenchman who was a runner up in the Formula 3 Championship in 2019 is the only one confirmed to be in consideration for a 2022 seat by Alfa Romeo.
Among drivers on the rumoured shortlist are Formula E world champion Nyck De Vries, 9 time race winner Valtteri Bottas and last season’s Formula 2 runner up Callum Ilott. Whilst Pourchaire might not carry the credentials and experience of his rumoured competition he is much younger in comparison having only turned 18 in August.
Speaking to Motorsport Week Vassuer said “I’m considering Theo, I don’t know if it is for next year or the future,
“Theo is part of the family, he is part of the [Sauber] Academy. We are spending a lot of energy on Theo because we are convinced Theo is one of the best ones for the future.
“I don’t know if it will be 2022, 2023 or 2024 but I’m convinced he, at one stage, will be one of the best ones.”
Vassuer also praised the progression that Pourchaire has been able to display throughout his relatively short career stating,
“I was not a big fan to go directly to F3 after F4 because I thought the step was big and you have less and less mileage in the junior series.
“I was not very comfortable and he had a tough start to the season, but then he was very close to winning the championship.The step to F2 would [also] be huge and at the second event he was able to win at Monaco.
“He has the capacity to adapt himself to the situation very quickly, but we also have to speak about experience and this you can’t buy you just have to test and race.”
Pourchaire currently sits sixth in the Formula 2 Championship standings and although he’s at significant deficit towards title contention the Frenchman managed a feature race win at Monaco.
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