P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Theo Pourchaire missed out on a Formula 1 seat for 2024, but he follows a trend of GP2/F2 champions to have claimed the title at the wrong time.
Theo Pourchaire, the newest FIA Formula 2 champion, is facing the sad reality that Formula 1 may pass him by because he took too long to win the title. Despite his glowing reputation and previous successes in junior championships, Pourchaire’s star started to dim in 2021, finishing fifth in the standings while his rival, Oscar Piastri, won the championship. F1 teams now expect their junior drivers to win the F2 title at their first or second attempt, which puts Pourchaire at a disadvantage. Furthermore, Sauber’s decision to keep Zhou Guanyu for a third season alongside Valtteri Bottas suggests that they do not view Pourchaire as worthy of a seat. While it may be premature to end Pourchaire’s hopes of an F1 career, his move to Super Formula in 2024 indicates a lack of interest from other teams.
