Formula 1 will have another opportunity to watch Paul Aron in action this season. Audi has confirmed that the Estonian driver will participate in two TL1 sessions in 2026, kicking off this weekend at the Barcelona Grand Prix and returning to the team’s cockpit again at the Austrian Grand Prix, at the end of the month.
Aron will take over Audi’s car during the first practice session at both events. In Barcelona, he will replace Nico Hülkenberg, while in Spielberg he will drive Gabriel Bortoleto’s car. After each TL1 appearance, the driver will return to Alpine commitments for the rest of the weekend.
The schedule is part of FIA’s requirement for all teams to lend their cars to young drivers on two occasions over the course of the season. The move aims to broaden the experience of new talents in Formula 1 cars during official track sessions.
The Estonian has already had opportunities to race for the team on two separate occasions during 2025. Now, he will gain more mileage with the Audi car, accumulating practical experience in real weekend race conditions.
In addition to contributing to the driver’s development, the sessions will also be used by the team in its on-track program. The expectation is that Aron will assist in data collection and the development of the activities planned for the two events, while broadening his experience behind the wheel of a Formula 1 car.
