20-year-old driver admits he’s ‘disappointed’ not to have Formula 1 seat for 2024

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Shortly after taking the chequered flag in the feature race in Abu Dhabi, Sauber reserve driver Theo Pourchaire’s thoughts would have been turning to where he’d be racing in 2024 and beyond.

The 20-year-old Frenchman’s consistency saw him claim the Formula 2 championship after three years in the series.

Speaking at the FIA prize-giving gala, via PlanetF1, Pourchaire was reflecting on his frustration that he wouldn’t be on the Formula 1 grid next year.

The pathway from Formula 2 to Formula 1 has become more and more difficult to negotiate.

Last season, Logan Sargeant was the only driver to make the jump due to his connection with the Williams team.

It meant champion Felipe Drugovich missed out, instead taking up the role as reserve driver at Aston Martin.

The year before that Oscar Piastri won the championship but he had to take a 12-month break before ending up at McLaren.

Pourchaire will play a similar role to Drugovich at Sauber in 2024, although he’s likely to end up in Super Formula in Japan.

It’s a far from ideal situation though and although next year’s driver market is expected to be much more active, teams tend to have very short memories.

With Sauber’s successors, Audi expected to look at higher-profile drivers before joining the grid in 2026, Pourchaire might be the right driver at the wrong time for the Swiss team.

Pourchaire disappointed at lack of opportunities at Sauber in 2024

Speaking about his future, the Frenchman said: “I am the third F2 Champion in a row who is not promoted to F1.

“Next year, unfortunately, I will not be on the F1 grid, which is obviously a little disappointing, because it’s a dream to be a Formula 1 driver. As F2 Champion, I think I deserved my place, but it is what it is.

“It’s not because you are titled in F2 that you are in F1, but frankly I am disappointed, because I am champion, I have achieved good results, I have done my best.

“The job I was given at the Sauber Academy was to win the championship, and I did that. That’s how it is, I’m just focusing on the future.”

Pourchaire may have to bide his time at Sauber, although both Zhou Guanyu and Valtteri Bottas’s contracts both expire in 2024.

The pair had a tough campaign this year, although Zhou is a very popular figure within the team and Bottas’s experience is invaluable.

The very best talents in Formula 2 do normally find a way into the sport.

McLaren poaching Piastri from Alpine before he’d ever raced in F1 showed they recognised his immense talent.

The trio of Lando Norris, George Russell and Alex Albon all earned seats in the sport in the same year too.

Pourchaire now has to hope he impressed enough in Japan to feature on the F1 grid, or try and follow in the footsteps of Liam Lawson and take any opportunity presented to him next year.