Photo: Formula Motorsport Ltd
Recent Formula 2 debutant Paul Aron has confirmed speculation that he has departed the ranks of the Mercedes-AMG Formula 1 Junior Team.
The 19-year-old Estonian was signed by Mercedes in 2019 while racing in Formula 4, and came third in the Italian championship that year. He spent the next three years racing Formula Regional cars, coming 11th in the 2020 Formula Renault Eurocup, third in the European championship in 2021 and ’22 and also eighth in the Asian championship last year.
As a rookie he came third in the FIA Formula 3 Championship this year, then last weekend stepped up to F2 with Trident at Yas Marina Circuit and qualified 21st before finishing the two races in 16th and 18th position.
“Had a blast jumping into a F2 race weekend without any prior experience in the car. Learned a lot, which was the goal and even completed my first ever pitstop. Thank you Trident for the opportunity,” Aron said in an Instagram post where he confirmed the end of his relationship with Mercedes.
“This marks the end of the 2023 season and also the partnership between myself and the Mercedes-AMG F1 junior programme. It was a pleasure to work with such a group of people and I am thankful for their contribution throughout these four-plus years. Excited for what the future holds and ready to start the next chapter of my career.”
A driver will be stepping up to F2 next year full-time with Mercedes’ backing, since FRegional Europe champion Andrea Kimi Antonelli will be bypassing FIA F3 to race in F2 with Prema.