Alpine junior Paul Aron set to driver for Sauber at Silverstone and Budapest
Sauber have confirmed that Alpine junior driver Paul Aron will make FP1 appearances in Silverstone and Budapest following an agreement with Alpine for his driving services.
Estonia’s Paul Aron will be making his Free Practice drive for Sauber at the upcoming British Grand Prix, with a further FP1 appearance planned for the Hungarian Grand Prix later this summer, following an agreement with Alpine for his driving services.
Hailing from the Baltic state’s capital, Tallinn, Aron comes from a family with deep motorsport roots. He began karting at the age of seven, quickly establishing himself on the European stage and clinching the 2018 CIK-FIA Karting European Championship. He earned himself a place in the Mercedes Junior Team in mid-2019, just months after his single-seater debut.
Aron most recently competed in the 2024 FIA Formula 2 Championship for Hitech, ending the season third. The Estonian previously raced in the 2023 FIA Formula 3 Championship with Prema Racing, coming third in the standings.
Beforehand, he competed in the Formula Regional European Championship for Prema in 2021 and 2022, in which he ended both series in third. He also won the rookie cup in the 2019 Italian F4 Championship and placed third in the regular standings.
Aron is a reserve driver for Alpine in 2025, having completed his first Formula One outing for the French team during the post-season test in Abu Dhabi at the end of 2024.
The 21-year-old will make a further step in his career as he prepares to make his debut behind the wheel of Nico Hulkenberg’s C45 in the opening practice at this weekend's British Grand Prix.
This aligns with the FIA regulations requiring each driver taking part in the Formula One World Championship to give up their seat twice per season to allow a young driver – with no more than two race starts – the opportunity to take part in practice sessions, a change from last season when the rule mandated just one outing per driver.
The Estonian will return for his second appearance for the team at the Hungaroring in early August, once again taking over from Nico Hulkenberg.
Since Sauber's Brazilian driver, Gabriel Bortoleto, is designated as a rookie, he will not be required to step aside for any additional young driver sessions this season, having already fulfilled the FIA’s practice requirements with his FP1 outings in Australia and China at the beginning of the season.
