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Motorsport

Alpine’s Paul Aron to make F1 debut with Sauber in FP1 at British and Hungarian GPs

Paul Aron Alpine Sauber Franco Colapinto Nico Hulkenberg Silverstone (Geopolitical Entity) Budapest

Alpine has signed an agreement with Sauber to loan out reserve driver Paul Aron, with the Estonian taking part in FP1 for Sauber in Silverstone and Budapest.

Sauber doesn't have any designated reserve drivers this year, and it still needed to find a rookie driver to run in two of the four required FP1 sessions across the 2025 season.

The future Audi squad has now signed a deal with Alpine for former F2 frontrunner Aron, who is part of Alpine's reserve roster this year.

Aron will step into Sauber's C45 in first free practice this weekend at Silverstone, deputising for Nico Hulkenberg before resuming his Alpine reserve duties for the remainder of the weekend. The 21-year-old will replace Hulkenberg again at the Hungarian Grand Prix, the final race before the summer break.

Sauber's other two rookies slots are already taken care of by Gabriel Bortoleto, who took his first points last weekend with eighth in the Austrian Grand Prix.

Paul Aron, Alpine (Photo by: Pirelli)

"I am very pleased to be given the opportunity to have valuable track time in Formula 1, so thanks to the Alpine Formula 1 team for coming to this arrangement," Aron commented.

"It is no secret that my desire is to one day race full-time in Formula 1 so any chance to be on track in a competitive environment is an important stepping stone. While I continue to focus on my development with Alpine, I do look forward to the two sessions with Sauber and giving my maximum effort to them at Silverstone and Budapest.”

Aron, who has had a busy private testing programme with Alpine this year, will also cover the Enstone squad's remaining FP1 duties.

Alpine is expected to continue with Franco Colapinto as Pierre Gasly's team-mate for the time being after a tough five-race stint, although de facto team chief Flavio Briatore has urged the Argentinian to step up his performance.

Meanwhile, F1's rumour mill has connected Mercedes reserve driver and 10-time grand prix winner Valtteri Bottas with the squad as a potential option should Colapinto's fortunes not improve.

Photos from Austrian GP - Race

Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

George Russell, Mercedes

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Pierre Gasly, Alpine, Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Bernie Ecclestone in the Paddock prior to the F1 Grand Prix of Austria .

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber, Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

George Russell, Mercedes, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

George Russell, Mercedes, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team, Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Fans wave red and white flags in the grandstand .

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

A general view of the grid filled with people prior to the F1 Grand Prix of Austria.

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Derek Warwick, FIA Steward on the grid with Bernie Ecclestone

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Franco Colapinto, Alpine

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Pierre Gasly, Alpine

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Pierre Gasly, Alpine

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Fans make an Austrian flag tifo .

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing, Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes, Franco Colapinto, Alpine

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team, Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Carlos Sainz, Williams

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing Team

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber, Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team, Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

George Russell, Mercedes

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, George Russell, Mercedes

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber, Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Lando Norris, McLaren, Andrea Stella, McLaren

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Andrea Stella, McLaren

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Formula 1

67

In this article

Filip Cleeren

Formula 1

Paul Aron

Sauber

Alpine

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