14
Photo: Red Bull
Four more young drivers have been named as getting time in contemporary Formula 1 machinery at Yas Marina Circuit over the next week.
The first opportunity comes tomorrow in free practice one for the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, then next Tuesday is F1’s official young driver test.
For FP1, Alpine has called up reserve driver Paul Aron, while Red Bull Racing will run future Racing Bulls driver Arvid Lindblad and that team has called up its test driver Ayumu Iwasa.
It had long been anticipated Aron would be back in the cockpit this weekend, since Alpine had stated earlier this year that after being loaned out to rival Sauber for two practice outings he would then have a further three with them.
“I’m looking forward to being back behind the wheel of the A525 this weekend,” said the 21-year-old, who came third in Formula 2 last year and has been focused on reserve driver duties through 2025.
“The [FP1] performances in Monza and Mexico City were very positive for my personal development as a driver and I’m looking forward to building on that for a final time this year.”
Iwasa graduated from the Red Bull Junior Team for 2025, but into a test driver role after Isack Hadjar beat him to a race seat at Racing Bulls. He has driven in three practice sessions for the team over the past two years, while also racing in the top-tier Super Formula championship at home in Japan.
In his rookie season he came fifth, and won the title this year but was overlooked by Racing Bulls for 2026 in favour of Lindblad. He concludes his rookie F2 season this weekend, and is in contention to come fifth in the points.
Lindblad started his single-seater career in 2022, and his F1 promotion was announced two days ago. Last year he was fourth in the FIA Formula 3 Championship, and he began 2025 by winning the Formula Regional Oceania championship.
The latest additions from junior single-seaters to F1’s young driver test next week are Dino Beganovic and Kush Maini.
Beganovic is a member of the Ferrari Driver Academy, and will test with the team after two practice call-ups in 2025. He is another F2 rookie, and sits eighth in the standings with one win so far.
Far more experienced in F2 is third-year driver Maini, who has also won in 2025 but languishes down in 15th in the points table. He will test with Alpine, who he is a reserve driver for.
“I can’t wait to take part in the post-season Abu Dhabi test and to have my first proper experience of the A525,” said the 25-year-old.
“Yas Marina Circuit is one I know well from F2 and it will be impressive to see the level of performance F1 cars have around this track. I’m very appreciative of the team for trusting me in this role and will aim to do the best job possible with the programme the team gives me.”
