Current F2 leader Theo Pourchaire to run free practice with Alfa Romeo

Alfa Romeo is giving its academy driver another run in F1 machinery.

Alfa Romeo is set to give its academy driver another go in a Formula 1 car later this year.

Italian publication formu1a.uno reported on Monday that Sauber academy driver Theo Pourchaire is set to drive Alfa Romeo’s 2023 challenger during a free practice session later this year. Although the team did not confirm when he’s set to take part in the practice session, the French driver told reporters that it’ll be after the Italian Grand Prix in Monza during Formula 2’s long break.

Pourchaire is currently leading F2, 12 points ahead of Mercedes academy driver Frederik Vesti. Wether or not he’ll get an F1 seat with Alfa Romeo — soon to return to the Sauber name — remains unknown, as the team still has Finnish driver Valtteri Bottas and Chinese driver Zhou Guanyu in the lineup, both who have been performing well.

Pourchaire has driven an F1 car once so far. He participated in Free Practice 1 at the United States Grand Prix in 2022, placing 18th in the standings around the Circuit of the Americas with a time of 1m 40.175s.

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