F1
Alpine recruits Paul Aron as reserve driver for 2025
© Alpine
Alpine has found Jack Doohan's replacement. No, not for the starting seat in 2025, which will go to the Australian, but for the reserve driver position next season... and that's a bit of a surprise. The A fléché made official this Saturday the recruitment of Paul Aron, who will become a reserve driver for the French team next year. The Estonian, currently 3rd in the championship Formula 2 with Hitech GP (and author of the pole position in Qatar on Friday), was not however associated with the academy Alpine, unlike Victor Martins or Kush Maini, his Formula 2 colleagues.
We're pleased to announce that @PaulAron16 will be our 2025 Reserve Driver 🤝
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—BWT Alpine Formula One Team (@AlpineF1Team) November 30, 2024
Former academy pilot Mercedes, from 2019 to 2023, Paul Aron finished 3rd in FRECA twice, in 2021 and 2022, and 3rd in the championship Formula 3 in 2023. This season he has been one of the protagonists of the Formula 2 championship and is currently ranked 3rd before the last two meetings, even though he has still not won a single victory.
“It’s incredible to join BWT Alpine Formula One Team, the Estonian rejoices. This is clearly a great team for any young driver and I am really pleased that Flavio and Oliver [Oakes] are giving me this opportunity. Ahead of 2025 and the hard work that comes with being a reserve driver, I have a championship to focus on at the end of the year and I will be giving my all to challenge for the title. I am really looking forward to getting to work and continuing my motorsport career.”
What future for Martins?
His unexpected promotion at Alpine Obviously raises some questions. Did Paul Aron benefit from his links with Oliver Oakes, former director of Hitech GP and now Team Principal ofAlpine en Formula 1, to land this role as a reserve? Above all, what will happen to Victor Martins? The Frenchman, who has had a nightmarish start to the season in Formula 2, still benefits from the support of theAlpine Academy and is coming back strong at the end of the season (8th in the championship before Qatar).
Alas, this was not enough to convince the French team to promote him as a reserve driver. Could this then be a sign that the adventure between the Tricolore and the A fléché is coming to an end, at least from the academy's point of view? According to our information, Victor Martins would still have a strong chance – even without the support ofAlpine – to start a third year of F2 with his favorite team, ART Grand Prix. It remains to be seen under what conditions…
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Dorian Grangier
A young journalist nostalgic for the motorsport of yesteryear. Raised on the exploits of Sébastien Loeb and Fernando Alonso.
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dedeHJ37
30/11/2024 at 02:02 a.m.
under the influence of the old playboy il magnifico, manipulation? it's disgusting!!! poor France
DANIEL MEYERS
30/11/2024 at 11:40 a.m.
V. Martins? 3 years in F2 to get the title? He's going to waste his time (and besides, nothing can guarantee him the title in 2025) Like T. Pouchaire, even if he were titled, his chances of moving up to F1 would be infinitesimal. He'd be better off moving towards the WEC, and even then, at least at Alpine, all places are taken!