Theo Pourcher “I want to prepare for F1 with Super Formula”[F1-Gate.com]

FIA Formula 2 champion Theo Pourcher says he is “disappointed” not to get the chance to race in Formula 1 in 2024. Sauber junior driver Théo Pourcher defeated Mercedes junior Frédéric Vesti in the final round of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix to become the F2 champion.

However, Pourcher will not step up to F1 in 2024. He follows in the footsteps of 2021 champion Oscar Piastri and 2022 title winner Felipe Dlugovic, who failed to secure a spot on the F1 grid so soon after winning two weight classes. Receiving the F2 trophy at the FIA ​​annual awards ceremony in Baku, Pourcher admitted he was “disappointed” not to have been offered a 2024 F1 race seat. “I was still in Japan 18 hours ago, so I’m jet-lagged and a little tired!” Pourcher said, looking back on the Super Formula test with a smile. “Unfortunately I won’t be on the F1 grid next year. It’s my dream to become an F1 driver. As an F2 champion, I think I deserve that position, but that’s the reality.” I think I’m the third person who didn’t. Well, it can happen. Just because you’re F2 champion doesn’t mean you get promoted to F1. “But I’m honestly disappointed. I’m F2 champion and Yes, I got a good result. I did my best. The goal that the Sauber Academy told me was to win the championship and I achieved that. So, this is how it is.”The F2 champion will not participate in the series next season. Forbidden by the rules. After winning the 2021 F2 title, Piastri spent one season as Alpine’s reserve driver, testing pre-2022 cars privately before being snapped up by McLaren as a race driver in 2023. Dolgovic signed as part of the first batch of Aston Martin’s driver academy and attended several of the team’s Friday practices. Pourcher has said he hopes to secure a race drive in a series in 2024, including the Japanese Super Formula Championship, which Red Bull junior Liam Lawson entered this year and came close to winning. “For me, I want to be in the championship next year,” Pourcher said. “It would be nice to test drive an F1 car for a few days, but it costs a lot of money and not every F1 team can afford that. So unfortunately that’s not the case at the Sauber Academy. That’s why I’ll do my best to participate in a good championship. That’s why I think Super Formula is the best option for me. “Super Formula is a great category. This week I went to Japan for the first time. The cars are fast. , Suzuka circuit is crazy, it’s super fast. I spoke to some F1 drivers before I went and they all said Suzuka is an amazing circuit. It’s obviously one of the most beautiful circuits in the world. At Suzuka Super Formula is an incredible experience.”I’ll be in Sauber’s reserve next year, so I’ll be doing a lot of simulator work, and I’m still a rookie, so I’ll probably have two free practice sessions. Japan is obviously far from Europe, but , the car is fast. Liam Lawson got the chance to drive a Grand Prix (with Alpha Tauri) and immediately drove the car fast and scored points. So Super Formula is the best option for me. Next year I’d like to get into Super Formula to prepare for F1 and get my chance there.”He was asked if his failure to make it to F1 was just bad luck or reflected systemic problems in F1. Pourchere replied, “I think it’s both.” “It was a bit of a bad timing and maybe the wrong place,” Pourcher continued. “There is no space in F1 next year.” “Of course, I think there will be a lot of drivers without contracts at the end of 2024, but I have no intention of racing in F2. So I want to continue racing and I want to be in the F1 paddock.” I also want to show how fast I am. So I don’t think there is a big problem with this system.” “But certainly F2 champions are usually eligible to compete in F1, even in their third season. Even so, Felipe Dolgovic has always been really fast in FP1. He’s ready to jump into an F1 car, so I think he’s suitable for F1 too. But this is what it is, you have to be realistic, Even if you don’t have a position, that’s part of motorsport.”