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Why Pourchaire had to leave Arrow McLaren in 'horrible' fashion
- Ludo van Denderen
Theo Pourchaire did not see it coming. The Frenchman - on loan from Stake F1 (Sauber) - was preparing for the next IndyCar race at Laguna Seca, until he received a 'horrible' phone call. The communication from first his manager and only later his team Arrow McLaren was short and to the point: 'You are being parted with immediate effect and Nolan Siegel is the replacement'. Formula 2 champion is still furious. But just why was he cast aside by McLaren's IndyCar branch?
Oh the irony. It was precisely an incident with Agustin Canapino that ended up being the start of the Frenchman's forced retirement. It was Pourchaire who tapped the Argentine from behind on one of the many restarts in the Detroit race, causing Canapino to lose several spots. The race organisers gave Pourchaire a penalty, but that was not enough for some Argentinian fans. They sent death threats to the young driver via social media.
While Pourchaire, Arrow McLaren and the IndyCar community disapproved of this behaviour, Canapino initially said he had not seen any threats. After some urging from his team Juncos Hollinger, he backtracked on that statement and the Argentine decided to temporarily step down to reflect. His replacement in that one race? Nolan Siegel, coming out in Indy NXT (similar to Formula 2) and junior from Arrow McLaren.
Siegel suddenly an option for Arrow McLaren
This substitution meant that while Siegel could still participate in the remainder of the Indy NXT season, it was only out of competition (i.e. he could no longer score points). Arrow McLaren then found it pointless to let the 19-year-old American compete in that class, upon which it was decided to transfer him directly to the IndyCar team. At the expense of the newly appointed Pourchaire.
According to McLaren, the fact that the Frenchman had to make way had nothing to do with his performance. The team says it took a longer-term view: Siegel was a McLaren driver and Pourchaire was not - he was and remained under contract to Sauber. Arrow McLaren, therefore, preferred to invest in its own driver, rather than in a driver who would leave after the season anyway. Incidentally, opinions differ on the latter point. Pourchaire, in an interview with AutoHebdo, did claim to have signed a multi-year deal.
Pourchaire did not believe the news
McLaren now admits that the communication could have been much better; both towards the media and certainly also towards Pourchaire. Pourchaire first heard the news through his manager. "At first I was very surprised, I didn't understand it, I thought it was fake. We had signed only a few weeks before. I was disgusted," Pourchaire said. Only later, just before his scheduled departure for Laguna Seca, did the team also call him. "They did not give me the specific reasons [for the departure."
At least in the races Pourchaire did drive in IndyCar, he impressed. There is reportedly interest in the Frenchman for next season. Where he will continue his career is still unknown.