Alfa Romeo protege beats Mercedes junior to F2 title

Sauber Academy driver Theo Pourchaire has sealed the Formula 2 title, after defeating Mercedes junior driver Frederik Vesti.

He is the seventh modern champion of the Formula 1 feeder series, having managed to outscore Vesti at the final round in Abu Dhabi.

Vesti finished in third after starting in ninth on the grid, following a dramatic move on Red Bull Junior Zane Maloney on the final lap for the podium spot.

But he needed to set the fastest lap to clinch the title from Pourchaire, who managed to climb up from 15th on the grid to fifth to score points and seal the title.

It is the first junior single seater championship for Pourchaire since he won the ADAC Formula 4 title in 2019, having been runner up of the F3 championship in 2020.

He made his full-time debut in F2 in 2021 and was runner-up last year, in a close battle with Aston Martin development driver Felipe Drugovich.