AUDI TO FIELD ALPINE F1 RESERVE PAUL ARON IN TWO PRACTICE OUTINGS

Audi will give Alpine reserve driver Paul Aron two mandatory rookie FP1 sessions, placing him in their cars for the Spanish and Austrian Grands Prix. Aron will first replace Nico Hulkenberg in Barcelona's opening practice, then two weeks later take over for Gabriel Bortoleto at the Red Bull Ring. This fulfills the FIA's mandate for teams to run rookie drivers in two practice sessions per car each season.

Aron, who finished third in the 2024 Formula 2 campaign, has served as Alpine's reserve and previously tested for Sauber (now Audi) in 2025. These outings offer him valuable F1 machinery experience as Audi prepares for its 2026 entry. He won't be the only newcomer on track in Barcelona, as Luke Browning joins Williams and Leonardo Fornaroli debuts with McLaren. While Aron will return to Alpine duties afterward, these sessions are crucial for his continued development and for Audi to evaluate emerging talent for the future.