Alfa Romeo finds new test driver: 'A permanent spot comes too soon'

It is the only and therefore most coveted seat: a place in the second Alfa Romeo alongside Valtteri Bottas. More and more candidates seem to be dropping out of the race. Antonio Giovinazzi seems an unlikely driver to get the seat. Another great talent now also seems to have missed out on the race seat.

2022 comes too soon

Theo Pourchaire is widely regarded as one of the biggest talents in the junior classes. The 18 year old Frenchman has already won two races in his first season in F2. It is no coincidence that there is already speculation about a place at Alfa Romeo, the team Pourchaire is connected to. However, a seat on the F1 grid in 2022 seems unlikely if we are to believe Frédéric Vasseur.

At the French Canal+ Alfa Romeo Pourchaire team boss predicted a bright future. "I want at all costs that Theo is well prepared when he enters F1," said Vasseur. "We are currently thinking about giving him an extensive testing programme in Formula 1 so that he can prepare properly. Ultimately, the goal is to advance to F1."

Not a done deal

Vasseur has a lot of faith in Pourchaire, although he says it's no certainty that the Frenchman will indeed advance to the elite of motorsport. "F1 should not be a goal in itself, because at the same time you have to perform in the class you drive. Often that does not go together. Lewis Hamilton drove two seasons in Formula Renault, two in F3 and one in F2, when he could have gone to F1 earlier. Lewis made the best choice at the time."

With Pourchaire also dropping out as a potential candidate for a permanent place at Alfa Romeo, it seems increasingly clear that Guanyu Zhou is likely to sit alongside Bottas. On November 16, Alfa Romeo will announce who gets the seat.