Pourchaire to make F2 debut with HWA in Bahrain
Theo Pourchaire will make his Formula 2 debut with HWA Racelab next month in Bahrain, joining the team for the final two rounds of the season.
Pourchaire, 17, finished second in the FIA Formula 3 championship during his rookie season in the category, scoring two wins and six further podiums, and outlined his intention to move up to F2 for 2021.
The French driver, who is also a member of Sauber’s young driver programme, announced last weekend that he would be making his F2 debut in Bahrain next month, but did not confirm which team it was with.
HWA Racelab announced on Wednesday that Pourchaire would be taking over the seat vacated by Giuliano Alesi after Mugello and taken by Jake Hughes at the last race in Sochi.
“I am really happy to participate in the final two rounds of FIA Formula 2 in Bahrain,” said Pourchaire.
“I'd like to say a big thank you to HWA Racelab for giving me this opportunity. I can hardly wait to work with the team and get to know a new car.”
“We are pleased to allow such a highly-talented young driver to take his first steps in Formula 2,” said HWA Racelab team principal Thomas Strick.
“Theo's talent is undisputed. The success he has enjoyed in his burgeoning career speaks for itself. We are excited about his debut in Bahrain. In recent years, he has proved several times that he can quickly find his feet in a new series.”
Pourchaire’s F2 debut will come on the regular grand prix layout of the Bahrain International Circuit before the final round of the season is staged on the outer loop track.
It marks a rapid rise for Pourchaire, whose last race in F4 came just over one year ago when he won the German national title.
He linked up with Sauber in June as part of its new junior academy, and is set to enjoy greater backing from the Swiss outfit - which operates Alfa Romeo’s F1 operation - in 2021 after exceeding its expectations this year.
“They didn't think I could do this," Pourchaire told Motorsport.com.
"Even though they hadn't set a specific goal for me, to get financial backing, it's obviously better to get a top three finish than to be, like, seventh in the championship.
"They still expected a good result, but they didn't think I could do that well.”
Honda's F1 exit won't impact Tsunoda's future - Tost
Formula 2, Formula 3 races to run on separate weekends in 2021
How Drugovich plans on becoming Brazil's first F1 driver since 2017
With a chaotic but “pretty much perfect” FIA Formula 2 weekend in Saudi Arabia behind him, Felipe Drugovich now leads the drivers’ standings in his third crack at the series. The Brazilian driver reveals how he ended up back on the grid after what he thought would be his last year in the series, and shares his F1 aspirations.
Dennis Hauger: The Red Bull junior aiming to emulate Piastri in F2
Norwegian talent Dennis Hauger has a tough act to follow in Oscar Piastri’s footsteps on his graduation to F2 as the reigning F3 champion with Prema. Here’s what he makes of the task ahead of him.
Ranking the 10 best drivers who raced for DAMS
DAMS has been one of the most prolific teams below Formula 1 since its foundation in 1989, launching 32 drivers into grand prix racing. Following the team's sale to ex-F1 racer Charles Pic, formally closing the book on the ownership of the Driot family, Motorsport.com picks out its 10 best drivers during their spell with the team.
Why Marcus Armstrong hopes ‘coming home’ can reopen doors to F1
After a disappointing 2021, Marcus Armstrong is returning to FIA Formula 2 for another shot at the title in 2022 with Hitech – this time without the backing of Ferrari. This year, he says, he’s ready to give it his all in a last-shot bid to reach Formula 1.
The hardships that haven’t dented Logan Sargeant's F1 dream
Faced with “no options” for 2021, Logan Sargeant’s Formula 1 dream looked set to crumble. But a last-minute Formula 3 seat and a strong season secured him a Formula 2 drive for 2022. He told Motorsport.com how his transformative season affected both his personality and his future.
Oscar Piastri: The F1 junior that has run out of places to prove himself
The dominant force of the junior single-seater ranks finds himself without a drive for 2022, but it isn’t stopping Oscar Piastri from plotting his path to the top. With Alpine potentially set for a driver dilemma for 2023, the newly-crowned Formula 2 champion is ready and waiting for his F1 shot.
What next for "too politically incorrect" for F1 Ticktum?
Having by his own admission "blown my chances" of reaching Formula 1, Dan Ticktum is facing an uncertain future. A driver of unquestioned ability who has at times been his own worst enemy, can he apply his lessons and rebuild his career hopes?
How Piastri could be forced to spend 2022 on the bench
Tipped as the next big thing after winning the FIA Formula 3 championship in his rookie season, Oscar Piastri has taken Formula 2 by storm and looks set to clinch that title too. But with no Formula 1 seat available to him for next year, the Alpine junior may have to wait for his time in the spotlight…