Photo: Formula Motorsport Ltd
A calendar clash with the World Endurance Championship has required Envision Racing to change its line-up for Formula E’s Berlin E-Prix, with Paul Aron signed as a stand-in driver.
The former Mercedes-AMG Formula 1 junior came third in his rookie FIA Formula 3 Championship campaign last year, and his main focus for 2024 is Formula 2 where he sits second in the standings with three podiums after the first three rounds.
Aron has no experince of driving an FE car, so Envision has decided to swap out Jack Aitken from this weekend’s rookie-only practice session at the Misano E-Prix so Aron can learn the championship’s Gen3 car and get used to working with the team.
“It’s a great opportunity to race for Envision Racing in Berlin. I’m very much looking forward to experiencing FE for the first time and working with the team,” said Aron.
“We’ll be working hard up until the race to prepare for the event, starting with the rookie session this week in Misano.”
Envision usually fields Sebastien Buemi and Robin Frijns in FE, and both are actually free the Berlin E-Prix on May 12. But since they are competing in WEC’s Spa-Francorchamps Six Hours on May 11, and therefore missing that day’s race in Berlin, FIA regulations do not allow them to jump back into their FE cars the next day.
“This is a very unusual situation for us as a team, and we are obviously frustrated that the calendar clash could not be resolved by the FIA and FEO,” said Sylvain Filippi, Envision Racing’s managing director.
“However, we have to make the best of the situation, and I believe with both Joel [Eriksson, the other substitute] and Paul we have two very exciting and competitive drivers.”