Alpine confirmed a change in its schedule for the Formula 1 Hungarian GP. Franco Colapinto will not participate in FP1 in Budapest, making way for reserve driver Paul Aron to take over the Argentine’s car in the first session of the weekend.
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This participation marks Aron’s third in free practice sessions in the 2026 season. The activity is part of complying with the category’s regulations, which require each team to use rookie drivers in four sessions throughout the championship, two with each car.
The 22-year-old Estonian has been with Alpine as a reserve driver since early 2025. Before that, he was involved in a loan agreement with Audi, then competing under the Sauber name, which allowed him to compete in free practice sessions for the Swiss team.
Last month, Aron participated in FP1 at the Spanish and Austrian GPs, replacing Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto, respectively. Now, he will return to the cockpit defending the team he is linked with for his first official participation for Alpine in a race weekend this season.
The Hungarian round will also feature other changes in free practice. Oscar Piastri and Oliver Bearman will also be out of FP1, with Leonardo Fornaroli and Ryo Hirakawa taking over the McLaren and Haas cars, respectively.
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Meanwhile, Colapinto is having a more consistent season compared to 2025. The Argentine currently holds 12th position in the drivers’ championship, with top-ten finishes in six of the ten rounds contested so far, although he is 23 points behind his teammate, Pierre Gasly.
His most recent result came at the Belgian GP, held last weekend, where he finished in tenth place, one position ahead of Gasly. Commenting on the race, Colapinto stated: “I think everything was under control. On a very long straight, you lose six or seven tenths due to slipstream and energy. When I was behind, I could get quite close and overtook three cars,” he said.
Asked about his expectations for the Hungarian GP, the Alpine driver adopted a cautious tone: “I don’t know. It’s a very different track, but we’ll do our best,” concluded the Argentine.
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