Theo Pourchaire, the nineteen-year-old driver, holds the current record for being the youngest-ever Grand Prix winner in Formula 2 and 3.
Current Formula 2 driver Theo Pourchaire has endured countless successes throughout his time in the feeder series. Making his single-seater debut at the tender age of 14, he holds the record for being the youngest-ever race winner in Formula 2 and Formula 3 when he was just 17 and 16 respectively.
Formula 3’s Youngest-ever Winner
After winning the 2019 ADAC Formula 4 Championship, Pourchaire joined Formula 3 racing for ART Grand Prix. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the 2020 season was shortened from its original twelve-race calendar to nine. Pourchaire started the season off poorly after a disastrous qualifying session saw him pointless for the first round in Austria.
During the second round in Austria, Pourchaire qualified fourth and was able to take the Sprint Race win following a collision between front runners Jake Hughes and Liam Lawson. Pourchaire’s win meant he became the youngest Formula 3 race winner at 16.
His winning streak would continue the next round in Hungary where he won the Feature Race. Now having put himself in contention for the Championship along with Oscar Piastri and Logan Sargeant. The three would finish the season separated by four points – with Pourchaire becoming vice-champion below champion Piastri.
Theo Pourchaire takes his first Formula 3 victory!
The 16-year-old led the race earlier and takes P1 after Hughes and Lawson collide – congrats @TPourchaire! #AustrianGP 🇦🇹 #F3 pic.twitter.com/sfhJwv3mfQ
— Formula 3 (@Formula3) July 12, 2020
Formula 2’s Youngest-ever Winner
Pourchaire, along with Piastri, stepped up into Formula 2 the following season. Once again racing for ART Grand Prix, Pourchaire had yet another poor start after retiring from the opening race in Bahrain. Throughout the rest of the season, Pourchaire’s performance was inconsistent but he would go on to score victories in Monaco and the Italian Grand Prix.
Following Pourchaire’s pole position at Monaco, he maintained the lead while others around him suffered bad pitstops and retirements. Pourchaire’s win in Monaco cemented him as the youngest-ever Formula 2 Grand Prix winner at just 17-years-old.
THEO POURCHAIRE WINS IN MONACO‼️
Our youngest EVER winner! Amazing drive from the rookie 🙌#MonacoGP 🇲🇨 #F2 pic.twitter.com/sQ0YMu3tEv
— Formula 2 (@Formula2) May 22, 2021
With Pourchaire having found success at a younger age compared to his counterparts, it provides him with the advantage to enhance his skills more. In 2023, he will serve as an F1 reserve driver role for Alfa Romeo. Could next year finally be his chance to win the Formula 2 Championship? And will we be seeing Pourchaire step up into Formula 1 in the next few years?
