After years of knocking on Formula 1’s door, 2023 Formula 2 champion Theo Pourchaire will make his debut this weekend behind the wheel of the Peugeot 9X8 Hypercar No. 94.
In anticipation of the event, the English site Feeder Series, which covers all feeder championships to F1, interviewed the French driver exclusively. Speaking about his F1 past, Pourchaire stated that while Sauber had believed in him and invested heavily in his career—allowing him to drive in FP1 sessions and spend extensive time on the simulator—they ultimately didn’t make the final, crucial step.
Reflecting on his early career, Theo Pourchaire recalled a meeting with Red Bull and Helmut Marko at the age of 14. He remembered sending his F4 results to Marko and visiting Austria with his manager. Later, when moving to ADAC F4 with US Racing, which had a partnership with Sauber Junior Team, he established the link that became the Sauber Academy, where he remained for years.
Pourchaire began his single-seater career in 2018 in the French F4 Junior category, winning the class and finishing third overall. The following year, he clinched the ADAC F4 championship in the final round. At 16, he stepped up to F3 with ART Grand Prix, finishing second in the standings behind Prema drivers Oscar Piastri and Logan Sargeant.
“I pursued this motorsport path due to budget constraints,” Theo Pourchaire explained. “My family made huge sacrifices, but I couldn’t afford three years in F4 and three in F3. I had to move fast. Sometimes the pressure was high, and perhaps it was a bit rushed. But I have no regrets.”
He added that his three seasons in Formula 2 were valuable learning experiences, despite some mistakes in the first two years. Finishing second and then winning in his third year, Theo Pourchaire reflected on how the long F2 stint affected public perception, as people often forgot his young age at the time.
Theo Pourchaire admitted he often dreamed of F1 during his first F2 season but acknowledged that inexperience sometimes got in the way. “I was 17, almost 18, when I started F2. I wasn’t the same driver I am today.” He continued, saying he was close to F1 but still unsure what held him back.
In November 2024,Theo Pourchaire collaborated with Peugeot during the Hypercar rookie test, though his future was still uncertain. “Until mid-December, I had nothing signed. Peugeot gave me the opportunity, helped me, and it’s thanks to them that I am driving this year. I’m enormously grateful for it,” he said.
This year, as a Silver-rated driver, Theo Pourchaire competed in the LMP2 class of the European Le Mans Series for Algarve Pro Racing alongside Lorenzo Fluxá and Matthias Kaiser, finishing seventh overall with a best result of third place. He also participated in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, where the team finished eighth in class.
Looking ahead, Theo Pourchaire is focused on improving Peugeot’s results and aiming higher in the championship. Reflecting on his career, he described this new phase as a “second career,” moving from a young driver to a professional with a manufacturer.
Theo Pourchaire concluded by expressing his readiness for new challenges. “You never know: I might be called for something else at any moment. But I’m very happy with Peugeot. It’s the perfect opportunity to showcase myself, handle the pressure of a manufacturer, and achieve strong results.”
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