The McLaren badge.
From being left out in the cold, Theo Pourchaire is set to have a foot in both the IndyCar and Formula 1 camps with a report claiming he’s about to sign with Arrow McLaren – but Sauber will retain an option on him.
Pourchaire’s dreams of continuing his motor racing career were shattered after Sauber decided to keep Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu for this year’s championship, despite his victory in the 2023 Formula 2 championship.
Theo Pourchaire will reportedly sign with McLaren’s IndyCar team
Nevertheless, the exceptionally skilled French driver received an opportunity in the IndyCar series when Arrow McLaren reached out to him for the Long Beach race. He showcased his talent by securing an impressive 11th place finish, which subsequently earned him a second chance to compete at Barber Motorsports Park.
After discovering that the wrist fracture David Malukas suffered in a mountain biking accident was more severe than originally anticipated, Arrow McLaren has decided to release him from their program.
Pourchaire’s recent oval test, which granted him permission from IndyCar to compete on ovals, has solidified his future and now the team requires a permanent replacement.
But he’ll also still have a foot in Formula 1 with Sauber.
According to L’Equipe, Pourchaire is “about to sign with McLaren on a long-term contract” although Sauber will retain the “option of repatriating him to F1 for simulator needs or in the event that a seat becomes available.”
Last week Sauber confirmed half of their 2025 line up when the team announced Nico Hulkenberg had signed a multi-year deal to join the team that will be rebranded Audi in 2026.
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Theo Pourchaire cleared by IndyCar to race on ovals
Pourchaire got his first experience of IndyCar’s ovals by testing the No.6 Chevrolet Arrows McLaren at the World Wide Technology Raceway, further fueling the rumor.
Despite the rain interruptions, the young 20-year-old managed to accomplish an impressive feat of completing 110 laps at the 1.25-mile track. This remarkable achievement led IndyCar to grant him the clearance to participate in oval races.
He expressed his delight in being able to drive the Arrow McLaren IndyCar once again, stating that the opportunity was fantastic. Additionally, he was thrilled to experience driving on an oval for the first time, eagerly anticipating the unique sensation it would provide.
Now, I can confidently state that it’s extremely fast and highly impressive. Achieving this requires exceptional finesse in handling the steering wheel, making precise steering inputs, skillfully managing the power, and maintaining overall smoothness while driving the car.
“I’m extremely happy, but also mentally exhausted because the pace is incredibly fast, and making a mistake on a track like this is undesirable.”
“Committing a minor error can lead to a collision with the wall, which we are well aware is highly perilous when racing on an oval track.”
“But I had a great time. Today has been quite a good day. The rhythm was just right.”
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