Solution in sight for up-and-coming F1 talent? 'That's an option, yes'

After a months-long break, Formula 2 is almost ready for the final races of the season. Theó Pourchaire is leading the championship and it would have to be very strange for the Frenchman to miss out on the title in Abu Dhabi. What will happen to the 20-year-old driver next year is partly clear: he will remain with the Sauber F1 team(currently Alfa Romeo) as a test and reserve driver. Possibly Pourchaire will race in another class.

Perhaps Pourchaire will follow in the footsteps of Liam Lawson and earlier Pierre Gasly by making a temporary move to Japan's Super Formula. "Super Formula is definitely a possibility," said Alessandro Alunni Bravi, Sauber's team representative. "Super Formula is one opportunity for sure. You know, it's important for drivers in targeting Formula 1 to race in a single-seater category, if possible. And we know that Super Formula, together with Formula 2, 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."

Difficult for talents to break through

It is currently proving extremely difficult for talents to earn a seat in Formula 1 from Formula 2. Outgoing F2 champion Felipe Drugovich, for example, is entering his second year as an Aston Martin reserve. There is no place for Pourchaire either, as Sauber will continue with Valtteri Bottas and Guanyu Zhou.

Pourchaire was also unlucky recently when his Alfa Romeo gave up the ghost early on, just when he was due to drive FP1 in Mexico. "But please let me pay tribute to him, because, he was expecting this FP1 session all year, and he wasn't able to complete any laps there in Mexico, because of an issue we had on the car," said Alunni Bravi. "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 a positive 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. He deserves, you know, even though we confirmed our driver line-up for 2024, he will remain as one of our reserve drivers and we are now looking for him, what will be the best racing programme to keep racing shape. But he’s part of our driver line-up. We will have three drivers next year, not two official race drivers and one reserve.