The 19-year-old Frenchman, currently second in the FIA Formula 2 points standings, will make his first appearance in the Alfa Romeo C42 at the Circuit of the Americas after driving a 2019 Alfa in a private test at the Hungaroring last August.
He will replace Valtteri Bottas at COTA, Zhou Guanyu’s debut in Bahrain counting on the team assignment to provide two rookie sessions.
Alfa Romeo has also announced that Pourchaire will be promoted as a reserve driver for 2023, a role occupied by Robert Kubica this year.
“I am thrilled to make my free practice debut in Austin,” said Pourchaire, who won three F2 races in his second season in the championship at Bahrain’s Sakhir, Imola and Spa circuit.
“It will be my second time behind the wheel of a Formula 1 car, but in some ways it will feel like the first time, as this time it will be during an official session of the Grand Prix.
“It seems like a dream come true and I want to thank Alfa Romeo for putting its trust in me and for giving me this extraordinary opportunity.
I’m looking forward to being on track and will make sure I get the most out of it and do my best to support the team as they prepare for the United States Grand Prix. “
Pourchaire’s debut was scheduled for his home Grand Prix at Paul Ricard, before the cancellation of the Russian Grand Prix prompted F2 to shift its support race to the French GP. It was decided by Alfa Romeo team boss Frederic Vasseur that Pourchaire would not drive the Alfa in any round with a conflicting F2 event.
Vasseur praised Pourchaire’s progress since joining the Sauber Academy in 2019, after finishing second to Oscar Piastri in the 2020 FIA Formula 3 championship and becoming the youngest ever F2 winner when he won the race. of Monaco last season.
“Theo has delivered great performances this season as well as in previous years,” noted Vasseur.
“We have been working closely with him for nearly four years now, as a member of our Academy, and we have been impressed by his continued progress and development first and foremost as a rider and, equally importantly, as a person.
“We are delighted to offer him his first free practice outing next week – it is a well deserved opportunity and I am confident he will impress us once again with his performance as he will help the team gather valuable data ahead of the United States”.
Pourchaire won’t be the only rookie to get FP1 mileage in Austin, as 2021 Formula 2 runner-up Robert Shwartzman will make his first run with Ferrari, while Logan Sargeant will perform for Williams.
Antonio Giovinazzi meanwhile will make his last outing with Haas, which was announced this week will race Pietro Fittipaldi in Mexico and Abu Dhabi.
