Alfa Romeo’s final rookie entry for the 2022 season has been confirmed, with Theo Pourchaire set to replace Valtteri Bottas in the first free practice session of Formula 1 in Austin
Sauber junior Theo Pourchaire will make his Formula One practice debut at the United States Grand Prix later this month when he lines up for Alfa Romeo in the first practice session
The 19-year-old Frenchman, who currently sits second in the FIA Formula 2 points table, will make his first appearance in an Alfa Romeo C42 at the Circuit of The Americas after driving a 2019-spec Alfa in a private test at the Hungaroring last August.
He will replace Valtteri Bottas in the process, with Guanyu Zhou’s debut in Bahrain counting towards one of the two rookie sessions the team must provide. Alfa Romeo also announced that Pourchaire will be promoted to reserve driver for 2023, after that role was taken over by Robert Kubica this year.
Pourchaire on F1 debut: “Dream come true “
“I’m very excited to make my free practice debut in Austin,” said Pourchaire, who has already won three races in Bahrain, Imola and Spa in his second season in the Formula 2 championship.
“It will be the second time I’ve been behind the wheel of a Formula One car, but in a way it will feel like it’s the first time because this time it will be during an official Grand Prix session. It feels like a dream come true and I want to thank Alfa Romeo F1 Team ORLEN for putting their trust in me and offering me this great opportunity.”
“I’m looking forward to being on track and I’ll make sure I make the most of it and do my best to help the team prepare for the United States Grand Prix. “
Team Principal Vasseur: “Are impressed with his development “
Alfa Romeo team principal Frederic Vasseur has praised Pourchaire’s progress since joining the Sauber Academy in 2019 and after he finished second to Oscar Piastri in the 2020 FIA Formula 3 Championship and became the youngest ever Formula 2 winner last season with his victory in Monaco.
“Theo has shown great performances this season, as in previous years,” said Vasseur. “We’ve been working closely with him as a member of our academy for almost four years now and we’ve been impressed with his consistent progress and development as a driver and, just as importantly, as a person.”
“We are very excited that he will get to do his first free practice next week. It’s a well-deserved opportunity and I’m confident he will impress us again with his performances as he will help the team gather valuable data ahead of the US Grand Prix. “
Who else will be making their F1 debut in Austin alongside Pourchaire
Pourchaire’s debut was actually scheduled for his home French Grand Prix before the cancellation of the Russian Grand Prix prompted Formula 2 to move their fringe race to the French Grand Prix. Vasseur decided that Pourchaire would not drive the Alfa Romeo in events that clashed with a Formula 2 race weekend.
Pourchaire will not be the only rookie to race in FT1 in Austin. 2021 Formula 2 runner-up Robert Schwarzman will drive for Ferrari for the first time, while Logan Sargeant will line up for Williams.
Antonio Giovinazzi, meanwhile, will make his final outing for Haas, who also announced this week that Pietro Fittipaldi will drive in Mexico and Abu Dhabi. Although the Brazilian has already competed in two Formula One races – replacing Romain Grosjean after his fire accident – and is therefore strictly speaking no longer a rookie, his two outings will be counted as those of a rookie.
