Theo Pourchaire says he is remaining fully focused on Formula 1 despite becoming Formula 2’s youngest ever winner at the Monaco Grand Prix.
Pourchaire won the 2019 German Formula 4 title and last season finished runner-up in Formula 3.
Pourchaire made his Formula 2 debut at the end-of-2020 Bahrain events but for 2021 stepped up full-time with the ART squad that has previously guided George Russell and Nyck de Vries to the title.
The Sauber-backed driver, 17, secured pole position in Monaco and converted it into victory in the Feature Race to replace Lando Norris as Formula 2’s youngest ever winner.
“To be honest I try to stay focused in F2 as I’m really far from F1,” he said.
“I have the help of Sauber, which is incredible, and I know they are watching me – when I’m not doing good results and when I am doing good results.
“I have their support, and my job is to just focus on F2, do a really good job, I will maybe try and be a title contender, I don’t know, maybe it’s too early, but I try to stay focused on F2.”
Pourchaire’s victory lifted him to within 21 points of early title leader Guanyu Zhou and says he felt it was important to underline his potential after a tricky opening round in Bahrain.
“[The win] means a lot because it is not easy to win at 17 years old in F2, it is a really competitive championship, and I need to perfect, work hard to catch the others.
“In Bahrain I was not super fast, the weekend was difficult, and I wanted to bounce back and be on the podium – I did the pole, youngest polesitter, youngest winner, and I can’t believe it.”
Feet on the ground attitude will serve him far better than arrogance.