Rumors
'Possible competition from Pourchaire for De Vries in search to new team'
- GPblog.com
Theo Pourchaire is hoping for a spot in Formula 1 next season, but there is a very real chance that the young Frenchman will have to be patient for another year. In that case, a (temporary) switch to Formula E might be a possibility. This is what The Race have reported on Tuesday.
Pourchaire up-and-coming talent
Pourchaire impressed in 2020 by immediately finishing second in the final standings in his first year in Formula 3. Last season he finished fifth with 140 points during his debut season in Formula 2. This year he is in second place for the time being, but certainly still has a great chance of winning the title.
If the eighteen-year-old driver captures the F2 title, the rules of the championship prohibit him from competing in the same class again in 2023. Pourchaire will then suffer the same fate as Nyck de Vries in the end of 2019. There is no vacancy in the pinnacle of motorsport (yet), because Fernando Alonso is happy to sign on with Alpine for another year. Driving in Formula 2 might not be an option.
Formula E instead of Formula 1?
A solution would be Formula E. Pourchaire currently drives for ART Grand Prix and that team will assist Nissan in the Gen3 testing and development phase this summer, although it will not formally be part of the management of the race stable. Maximilian Guenther is reportedly going to extend his contract, but Sebastien Buemi is making the move to Envision Racing. That clears the way for a new driver.
One of the other candidates for seat vacancy is Nyck de Vries. Priority number one for the Dutchman is Formula 1, but if the opportunity there fails, there is certainly a chance that he will remain active in Formula E. The first talks between De Vries and Nissan are said to have already taken place last month. However, according to The Race, De Vries has more opportunities within the electric class and a full-time program in the WEC with Totoya is also not excluded.
That De Vries will leave Mercedes is already clear. The German racing team is saying goodbye to Formula E and will be taken over by McLaren. De Vries already revealed recently that he will not be working for McLaren in 2023.