A Teenager Could Unseat Zhou Guanyu at Alfa Romeo F1

• Alfa Romeo team principal Frederic Vasseur is considering the team's own junior driver, Theo Pourchaire, to replace Zhou Guanyu for 2023.

• Pourchaire is second in the Formula 2 standings behind Felipe Drugovich. American Logan Sargeant is third in F2.

• To potentially complicate things, Pourchaire says this will be his final year in F2.

The battle to become Valtteri Bottas' teammate at Alfa Romeo in 2023 appears to be down to two drivers.

Alfa Romeo team principal Frederic Vasseur is personally championing the Sauber team's own junior Theo Pourchaire, the 18-year-old fellow Frenchman who is a title contender in Formula 2 this year. Pourchaire is second in the F2 standings behind Felipe Drugovich. American Logan Sargeant is third in F2.

Vasseur says Pourchaire, who turns 19 on August 20, will be making a Friday practice or tire testing appearance for the Formula 1 team in 2022.

"We'll find the solution, don't worry," Vasseur said recently.

At the same time, Alfa Romeo is not yet ready to confirm that current driver Zhou Guanyu will be keeping his seat next year, even though the team says it is impressed with the Chinese rookie. He currently sits 17th in the Formula 1 Drivers' Standings with five points.