Paul Aron to Drive Hülkenberg’s Car for Sauber

Alpine reserve driver Paul Aron will make his Formula 1 practice debut with Sauber at the British and Hungarian Grands Prix, taking over Nico Hülkenberg’s car during the FP1 sessions as part of a loan arrangement to meet Sauber’s rookie requirements. Aron, a 21-year-old Estonian and former Formula 2 frontrunner, will continue his development with Alpine while pursuing a future F1 race seat. The move comes amid internal driver pressure at Alpine, with Franco Colapinto reportedly under scrutiny and potential mid-season changes being speculated. Aron is also expected to participate in further FP1 sessions for Alpine later in the season as the team assesses its 2026 lineup. This arrangement reflects broader changes in how teams are managing rookie participation and regulatory obligations. Both Alpine and Sauber have characterized the opportunity as an important step for Aron’s career development.