P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Paul Aron to replace Franco Colapinto for Alpine F1 practice debut
Paul Aron will get his first practice outing for Alpine at the upcoming Italian Grand Prix, stepping in for Franco Colapinto during the opening hour of practice on Friday at Monza. Aron, the 21-year-old Estonian, was the third-place finisher in last year’s Formula 2 championship and serves as Alpine’s reserve driver. He had previously participated in two FP1 sessions this season with Sauber, at the British and Hungarian Grand Prix races, and also shared running time with Colapinto during a Pirelli tire test at the Hungaroring. Alongside Aron, another rookie, Ireland’s Alex Dunne, will be driving for McLaren during the first practice session at Monza, with Dunne currently ranking fifth in the 2025 F2 championship standings. The practice session with Aron comes amidst uncertainty regarding Colapinto’s future with Alpine, as the Argentine driver has yet to score points and faced criticism from Alpine’s executive advisor, Flavio Briatore, despite an improved performance at the Dutch Grand Prix where he finished in 11th place. Colapinto remains optimistic about his progress, aiming to capitalize on future opportunities and build on his recent achievements in preparation for the upcoming races.
