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Mercedes has signed 2023 Formula 2 champion Theo Pourchaire as a development driver ahead of the F1 season getting underway in Melbourne.

The French driver joins Doriane Pin, current F2 driver Joshua Durksen and former F1 driver Anthony Davidson, who is also an analyst on Sky Sports F1, in the role.

Fred Vesti, with whom he closely fought for the title in his final F2 campaign, will continue as third driver for the Brackley-based squad in support of full-time drivers George Russell and Kimi Antonelli.

Pourchaire, now 22, was a highly regarded talent during his time in the support paddock but was unable to secure a race seat, finding himself passed over while a member of the Sauber Academy.

He did garner experience in IndyCar with McLaren in 2024, but was suddenly let go after only a handful of races in favour of Nolan Siegel.

With his single-seater career stalled, Pourchaire turned to endurance racing, which has already proven more fruitful.

After being signed by Peugeot to a reserve role in the WEC last year, he soon joined Algarve Pro Racing in the ELMS, which included competing in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

This term, he has a full-time race seat with Peugeot alongside Formula E driver Nick Cassidy and former F1 driver Paul di Resta.

The news comes shortly after Mercedes announced its junior programme for the year ahead, which consists of nine drivers and is headlined by 17-year-olds Rashid Al Dhaheri and Ethan Jeff-Hall, who are competing in Formula Regional and British F4, respectively, in 2026.

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