Alpine reserve driver Paul Aron is expected to make his Formula 1 free practice debut, potentially as soon as the British Grand Prix, doing so for Sauber.
Aron is among Alpine’s reserve driver pool in the F1 2025 season, and PlanetF1.com understands he is expected to make his first outing at a Grand Prix weekend with a loan to Sauber agreed.
Paul Aron expected to make FP1 debut with Sauber loan agreed
Additional reporting by Thomas Maher
Aron made the step up to Alpine reserve after finishing third in the Formula 2 standings last season, with the former Mercedes junior taking feature race victory in Qatar and four pole positions on his way to his championship placing.
The 21-year-old is among Alpine’s standby drivers on a Grand Prix weekend, with Jack Doohan acting as first-choice reserve after being moved from his race seat for Franco Colapinto earlier this season.
Should Aron be confirmed for a drive, this will mark an opportunity for the Estonian to make his mark on a Grand Prix weekend, having taken part at last season’s young driver test for Alpine in Abu Dhabi in December.
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He would fulfil one of Sauber’s four mandatory rookie participations in an FP1 session this season, with the allocation for rookie drivers having doubled compared to 2024.
Elsewhere, Red Bull senior advisor Helmut Marko said their junior driver, Arvid Lindblad, is set to make his own FP1 debut at his home race this weekend.
The 17-year-old was awarded an FIA Super Licence exemption to earn the accolade before his 18th birthday, which will enable him to drive Formula 1 machinery ahead of time.
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