Audi will name on Alpine reserve driver Paul Aron for 2 of its obligatory rookie FP1 outings on the System 1 Barcelona and Austria grands prix.
Groups are required to discipline rookie drivers in two apply classes per automobile over the course of the season.
Audi will make the primary of those substitutions on the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix, the place Aron will take over Nico Hulkenberg’s R26 within the Friday session. Two weeks later, he’ll substitute Gabriel Bortoleto on the Crimson Bull Ring for first apply on the Austrian Grand Prix.
The Estonian beforehand took to the observe with Audi when it was often known as Sauber in 2025, when he additionally labored as a take a look at driver for the squad. Nonetheless, after finishing the 2 classes for Audi this 12 months, he’ll will return to Alpine to proceed his duties as one in every of its reserve drivers.
In a press release, Audi stated the chance would supply Aron with “worthwhile observe time” because the F2 race winner “continues to construct expertise in System 1 equipment whereas contributing to the workforce’s on-track programme”.
Aron won’t be the one rookie in motion on Friday on the Spanish circuit. He joins Luke Browning, who can be on observe with Williams and Leonardo Fornaroli, who will make his F1 debut with McLaren in Barcelona.
Each workforce on the grid can be required to make two substitutions for every of its automobiles over the course of the 2026 season, apart from Racing Bulls.
The Italian workforce is barely required to switch Liam Lawson, whose team-mate Arvid Lindblad already fills the rookie quota.
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