Mercedes signs former F2 champion Theo Pourchaire as development driver

Mercedes has recruited 2023 Formula 2 champion Theo Pourchaire as a Formula 1 development driver for 2026, providing the highly-rated but F1-overlooked Frenchman an unexpected route back into the championship's orbit. Pourchaire, who will continue his primary role as a Peugeot factory Hypercar driver, joins a roster that includes simulator work and supports Mercedes' F1 operations from its Brackley headquarters.

Why it matters:

Pourchaire's signing represents a savvy talent acquisition for Mercedes, securing a driver with proven junior formula success and recent high-level experience in both IndyCar and the FIA World Endurance Championship. For Pourchaire, it offers a crucial lifeline to remain connected to F1 after his promising single-seater path, once backed by Sauber, stalled without a race seat, ensuring his skills remain sharp and relevant within a top team's system.

The details:

• Pourchaire's junior career was marked by standout performances, including nearly winning the 2020 F3 title as a rookie and becoming the youngest-ever F2 race winner in 2021.
• Despite winning the F2 championship in 2023, his graduation to F1 was blocked at Sauber (now Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber), where he served as a reserve but never seriously challenged for a race seat alongside Valtteri Bottas or Zhou Guanyu.
• His move away from the Sauber ecosystem led to a turbulent 2024 stint in IndyCar with McLaren, showing flashes of speed but lacking stability, before he transitioned to sportscars with Peugeot for 2025.
• At Mercedes, he joins a development driver group that includes F2 race-winner Joshua Dürksen, 2026 F1 Academy champion Doriane Pin, and ex-F1 driver Anthony Davidson. Frederik Vesti, who finished second to Pourchaire in the 2023 F2 standings, holds the separate role of official reserve driver.

What's next:

The role provides Pourchaire with a structured platform to contribute to Mercedes' F1 program while pursuing a parallel world championship campaign in endurance racing. It keeps him in the conversation for future F1 opportunities, whether at Mercedes or as a valuable known quantity for other teams, all while the team benefits from his feedback and simulator work. His progress in WEC will be closely watched as an indicator of his ongoing development behind the wheel.