Just four days before the first action-packed day of the Silverstone Grand Prix weekend, BWT Alpine have announced their agreement with Kick Sauber, seeing Estonian Paul Aron take part in FP1 at Silverstone and Budapest for the Swiss team.
Paul Aron was a talent many Formula 2 fans were saddened to see leave last year, as despite a very successful season, it was never in the cards that he would complete more than one season in the 22-car series.
Following his departure, the 21 year-old now serves as the BWT Alpine Formula 1 Reserve Driver, and has been spotted in the teams garage on multiple occasions, supporting drivers Franco Colapinto and Pierre Gasly.
As the iconic British race weekend approaches, Alpine have confirmed their agreement with Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber, as they loan Reserve driver Paul Aron to take part in two of the mandatory rookie 60-minute Free Practice sessions.
Kick Sauber have completed two out of four rookie FP1 sessions, with rookie Gabriel Bortoleto completing them in Australia and China.
This will be Aron’s first FP1 session of five this year, taking part in two sessions with Kick Sauber and the remaining three mandatory sessions with Alpine, after Ryo Hirakawa took part in the first practice session earlier this year in Japan.
Aron will be getting behind the wheel of Nico Hulkenberg’s C45, pairing up with ex-title rival and Formula 2 graduate Gabriel Bortoleto. The duo have had their fair share of battles on track, but will now be working together to help the team.
Following the announcement, Aron has said:
“I am very pleased to be given the opportunity to have valuable track time in Formula One, so thanks to BWT Alpine Formula One Team for coming to this arrangement.”
This session will prove to be a milestone in the Estonians career, but also a pivotal moment, as he aims to impress in order to heighten his chances of getting a Formula 1 seat next year. Referring to this, Aron continued:
“It is no secret that my desire is to one day race full-time in Formula One 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 Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber and giving my maximum effort to them at Silverstone and Budapest.”
This is his official Formula 1 debut – though he has competed mileage in the A523 in between race weekends, as part as Alpine’s testing of previous cars (TPC) programme.
Aron is not the only rookie confirmed to participate in the first practice session of the Silverstone weekend, as Red Bull will host current F2 driver Arvid Lindblad too.
Photo by Mark Sutton – Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images
