Alpine Expands Driver Development with Sauber Agreement
Alpine has formalized a driving services agreement with Sauber that will see reserve driver Paul Aron participating in the first free practice session (FP1) at the upcoming British Grand Prix and the Hungarian Grand Prix in July.
Aron, a prominent talent from Alpin’s roster, was appointed as a reserve driver last year amid a competitive Formula 2 campaign, ultimately competing for Hitech. He has previously tested with Alpine, contributing six days in a 2023 car and taking part in the Abu Dhabi post-race test, yet he has yet to drive in an official FP1 session until now.
Under the new arrangement, Aron will wield his skills for Sauber during the two designated sessions, reflecting a collaborative effort between the teams to maximize driving opportunities for emerging talent. "It is in our interests to maximize any driving opportunities for our young talent,” said Alpine executive director Flavio Briatore. “Paul was a front runner in that category, so this is an opportunity for him and the team to continue his progress and to give him valuable track time.”
In addition to the Sauber outings, Aron is slated to participate in three FP1 sessions for Alpine later this season. This initiative marks a vital step in Alpine’s evaluation of its 2026 driver lineup while affording Aron a total of five sessions in 2025 to further his development.
Expressing gratitude for the opportunity, Aron stated, “I am very pleased to be given the opportunity to have valuable track time in Formula 1. 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.”
This collaborative venture highlights both teams’ commitment to nurturing future racing talent while ensuring competitive readiness in Formula 1.
