installing new laravel 11 app problems

I use wsl (latest version) on windows 10, with ubuntu 22.04.

I'm trying to create a new laravel 11 project.

i have installed php 8.3.4 >> composer and then laravel installer. (note that i couldn't find a pdo extension to install. trying to do so results in a message that php8.3-common is already installed)

then i tried to create a project (in my home folder, so no permission issues.. ). i used: composer create-project laravel/laravel:^11.0 example-app

now when i try to use artisan, i get this:

Laravel Framework 11.0.8

Usage:
  command [options] [arguments]

Options:
  -h, --help            Display help for the given command. When no command is given display help for the list command
  -q, --quiet           Do not output any message
  -V, --version         Display this application version
      --ansi|--no-ansi  Force (or disable --no-ansi) ANSI output
  -n, --no-interaction  Do not ask any interactive question
      --env[=ENV]       The environment the command should run under
  -v|vv|vvv, --verbose  Increase the verbosity of messages: 1 for normal output, 2 for more verbose output and 3 for debug

   Illuminate\Database\QueryException

  could not find driver (Connection: sqlite, SQL: PRAGMA foreign_keys = ON;)

  at vendor/laravel/framework/src/Illuminate/Database/Connection.php:813
    809▕                     $this->getName(), $query, $this->prepareBindings($bindings), $e
    810▕                 );
    811▕             }
    812▕
  ➜ 813▕             throw new QueryException(
    814▕                 $this->getName(), $query, $this->prepareBindings($bindings), $e
    815▕             );
    816▕         }
    817▕     }

  +49 vendor frames

  50  artisan:13
      Illuminate\Foundation\Application::handleCommand()`