F1 team agree driver swap with rival as debut date confirmed

Alpine have announced the F1 debut date for their reserve driver Paul Aron who will drive for a rival team at the British Grand Prix.

The 21-year-old will compete in FP1 at Silverstone with Sauber, after the two teams reached an agreement and have loaned out their reserve driver.

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The agreement will release Aron for two FP1 sessions this season, and will see the Estonian also compete for Sauber at the Hungaroring in August.

Aron will replace Nico Hulkenberg on both occasions, as part of the mandatory requirement that every F1 team must give up four FP1 sessions to a rookie driver, unless the team themselves have a rookie driver in a car.

Therefore, Sauber only have to give up two FP1 sessions to a younger driver because it is Gabriel Bortoleto’s rookie season, with McLaren doing the same with Oscar Piatsri in his 2023 rookie season.

Who is Paul Aron?

Aron competed in Formula 2 last year, where he finished third behind current F1 stars Bortoleto and Isack Hadjar, nonetheless impressing Alpine bosses and earning himself a spot amongst their reserve ranks.

Whilst the 21-year-old does not currently compete in a full-time racing series, he undertakes development work back at Alpine’s Enstone base, including simulator tests to help with their current car.

Alpine’s executive advisor Flavio Briatore released a statement following the agreement, which read: “It is in our interests to maximise any driving opportunities for our young talent, so it is good to have an agreement with Sauber for Paul to drive in Free Practice 1 in Silverstone and Budapest.

“We are seeing varied success from last year's Formula 2 drivers this year up and down the grid, and 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.”

Aron’s FP1 opportunities coincide with a difficult period for Franco Colapinto at Alpine, who has failed to earn a single point with the team, and was involved in an embarrassing incident at the Austrian Grand Prix.

Despite being lapped by Piastri, the Argentine driver tried to battle the McLaren on track which earnt him a five-second time penalty and ensured he finished the race in second-to-last position.

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