Aron set for next FP1 run with Alpine at Monza

Alpine have confirmed that reserve driver Paul Aron will replace Pierre Gasly in the A526 for the first free practice session (FP1) at Monza this weekend. This will be the 22-year-old Estonian's fourth FP1 appearance of the 2026 season. Aron previously completed two FP1 sessions with Audi in Barcelona and Austria under the Audi-Alpine agreement, plus one outing for Alpine in Hungary. The consistent opportunities reflect growing confidence from the team's leadership in the 2026-born talent. Beyond simply fulfilling the mandatory young-driver requirement, Aron has been entrusted with a bigger responsibility: after FP1, he will return to the Enstone factory for Friday-night simulator work to refine the car setup ahead of the race weekend. Alpine engineers hope the real-world data from Monza will help them cross-reference accurately with simulation data, optimizing the car's performance at a notoriously demanding circuit. "I was very pleased with my session in Budapest," Aron said. "Being able to drive again at Monza and help the team compare our latest upgrade package – which I have driven in the simulator – is a wonderful opportunity. I want to thank Alpine for trusting me with this role." Notably, Monza marks the first time Alpine will deploy the new upgrade package on both cars – those of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto. At Zandvoort last week, only Gasly ran the updated version. Choosing Zandvoort (high downforce) and Monza (low downforce, long straights) creates a demanding validation sequence that allows the team to comprehensively assess the upgrade's effectiveness before committing to the next development direction. Meanwhile, the decision to give Aron Gasly's FP1 seat means the Frenchman loses valuable track time at a circuit notorious for tricky setup requirements. However, Aron's Friday-night simulator workload is seen as an effective compensation, ensuring the team still has sufficient data to prepare for qualifying and the race.