Interview
Pourchaire believes he can replicate last year's trophy-laden end of season run
“I love the rain, I love the dry!” Theo Pourchaire says he’s ready for whatever Sochi throws at him this weekend as the Frenchman prepares to debut at the first of three unknown circuits for him in the final three rounds of the season.
Despite having never previously driven at Sochi, Jeddah or Yas Marina, Pourchaire is confident he can replicate his remarkable end of season run from the 2020 Formula 3 campaign, where he took five podiums from the final three rounds.
The 18-year-old claimed a second win of the season last time out in the first Sprint Race at Monza and believes that it can spark a successful run of form.
“I am ready to have a round like I did in Monza and like I did in Monaco,” said Pourchaire. “I want to grab a lot of points and become more consistent. I am P5, but I want more. I always want more, and I know that I can have more.
“I feel like I can finish this season in the same way as I finished the F3 season last year. I would be really happy with a place in the top three, but if the title is possible, then I don't want a repeat of what happened in F3 where I missed out on the title to Oscar (Piastri) by three points.
READ MORE: Vips focused on producing ‘big weekends’ as he looks to climb the championship order
“That was difficult to take, but I am still aiming for the title. That is the goal for me and it's still possible. I am a bit far from P1 and P2, but there are still three rounds to go, so it can be a lot closer.”
Pourchaire is fifth in the Championship, 19 points off the top three and 56 off Oscar Piastri, but with nine races remaining and a better understanding of the car beneath him, he’s confident he can climb the order.
“I have the feeling that I am getting faster and faster,” he continued. “I am really young and don't have a lot of experience, so the first races are always quite difficult, but as soon as we do more laps and have more mileage, then I get used to the car and the Championship.
“I am happy to be P5 right now, especially when you consider everything that has happened to me. There was a mechanical issue in Bahrain, the injury to my wrist in Baku and clutch problems at Silverstone.
“I feel like I am fast, and I know that it is possible to win the Championship. Me and the team need to put everything together, but it is possible.”
as teams arrived on Wednesday. Pourchaire says that it will play into the hands of the more adaptable drivers, and he believes he’s one of them.
“I don't really care if it is raining or dry,” he continued. “The only difficult thing is changing conditions, but we will probably have that. It should be dry for Quali, but maybe there will be rain in the races.
“At some point, we will probably have a race where there is some rain and then a dry spell. Also, not a lot of drivers know the track. I know that Oscar (Piastri) doesn’t, for example.
“Those who adapt the easiest and the fastest will be at the top. I love the rain, I love the dry, I'll adapt to whatever the conditions.”