Théo Pourchaire thought that his victory in Formula 2 would open the doors to a career in Formula 1, or at least to a stable contract in another prestigious category.
Théo Pourchaire, recent Formula 2 champion, finds himself in an unexpected situation after being sidelined by Arrow McLaren in IndyCar.
The young French pilot confided his dismay in an interview given to the podcast Le Paddock from RMC, where he explained the difficulties he encountered finding a full-time car.
A dream shattered after the F2 title
Pourchaire believed that his victory in Formula 2 would open the doors to a career in Formula 1, or at least to a stable contract in another prestigious category.
“It was a dream. I thought it was going to happen after that. It didn’t.” he confides, disappointed by the turn of events.
“It’s a very closed sport” he said, expressing his regret at not having had the opportunity to show himself at the highest level. Despite his impressive track record, he finds himself without a concrete commitment for the coming year, a difficult situation to accept for a young talent on the rise.
A mixed experience in Super Formula
After his F2 title, Pourchaire attempted to relaunch in Super Formula in Japan, but the experience proved more difficult than expected.
“It was another world” he explains, referring to the language barrier and cultural challenges he had to face. The lack of English in the Japanese paddock made his adaptation complex, and he was unable to flourish in this environment.
However, despite the difficulties encountered in Super Formula, Pourchaire quickly saw another opportunity, this time in IndyCar, when McLaren asked him to run a few races.
McLaren: a disappointment in IndyCar
After being contacted by McLaren to participate in several IndyCar races, the adventure seemed off to a good start for Pourchaire.
“I was super happy” he says, talking about the offer that turned into a contract to finish the season. But this collaboration ended abruptly, leaving the young driver without a clear explanation from the team.
“I am happy to have been able to show myself, but I am disappointed because I find myself with nothing” he declares, frustrated by this situation.
This exclusion in the middle of the season is all the more difficult to swallow as Pourchaire’s performances were rather satisfactory. For the French driver, this missed opportunity is a hard blow in a career that he hoped would take off.
A hope in F1 at Audi?
Despite these setbacks, Theo Pourchaire remains hopeful of joining Formula 1, in particular thanks to his link with Sauber. With Audi entering the sport in 2026, he hopes to be considered for a role within the team.
“I think the team hasn’t made its choice yet” he says, optimistic about his chances, although realistic about the competition.
Mattia Binotto, who recently mentioned Pourchaire as a potential candidate, gave him new hope. The young driver is convinced that his age and talent represent an asset, saying that there would be no “no major risk” to give him a chance. While waiting for a response from F1, Pourchaire is also considering other alternatives, such as IndyCar or endurance, disciplines that he also considers attractive.
Pourchaire concludes by saying that, although F1 remains his ultimate dream, he is above all passionate about motor racing and open to other opportunities to continue driving at the highest level.
