Toto Wolff may see one of his decisions backfire (Image: Getty)
Former junior driver Paul Aron has reunited with former Hitech GP boss Oliver Oakes, signing for as the team’s new test and reserve driver for the 2025 season onwards.
Aron made the step up to Formula Two over the winter after recording a P3 finish in the Formula Three standings, but despite his progression, opted not to retain him in their junior stable. The Estonian racer dropped behind Kimi Antonelli in the pecking order, and the Italian was eventually named as ’s successor.
So far in 2024, ’s call not to retain the 20-year-old’s services has looked a questionable one – Aron scored six podiums in the first 12 races of the season and dominated the early stages of the round in Qatar, finishing P1 in practice and backing that up with pole position in qualifying.
Aron now has an avenue onto the grid. After watching Jack Doohan progress from Alpine’s test and reserve driver to a fully-fledged F1 star, the Estonian racer can trust his new employers to give him a shot at proving Wolff wrong.
“It’s incredibly special to be joining BWT Alpine Formula One Team,” Aron said ahead of the Qatar Grand Prix. “It is clear that this is a great place to be for any young driver and I’m really pleased that Flavio [Briatore] and Oliver [Oakes] have given me this opportunity.
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Paul Aron has signed a contract with Alpine for 2025 (Image: Getty)
“Before 2025 and the hard work that will come with being the team’s Reserve Driver, I have a Championship to focus on for the remainder of this year and I will be giving it my all to compete for the title. I’m looking forward to really beginning the work and continuing my career pathway in motorsport.”
Aron hopes to avoid a fate similar to that of fellow junior team alumni Frederik Vesti. The Danish racer pushed Theo Pourchaire all the way during the F2 title fight in 2023 but was never in serious contention for a promotion to the F1 grid.
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Fortunately for the 20-year-old, Alpine appear to be committed to boosting his long-term prospects of a full-time F1 career. After the announcement, Briatore explained: “We are very pleased to have Paul join BWT Alpine Formula One Team as our 2025 Reserve Driver.
“There is a generational shift in Formula One at the moment, as we see with many young drivers coming into the sport and making an impact. We believe Paul is one of the best talents and we look forward to developing him into an F1 driver.”