In Profile: Paul Aron

PREMA Racing and Mercedes Junior Team driver Paul Aron secured his first podium last time out in Melbourne, finishing P3 in the Sprint Race.

The Estonian answered a few vital questions ahead of Round 3 at Imola to help you get to know him a little bit better.

FIRST RACING MEMORY

“My first memories ever in racing is my brother actually, that’s how I started getting into racing. As a young kid, maybe two to three years old, I was going to the tracks to watch him race. That’s the first thing I remember, him racing around and I remember thinking that’s what I wanted to do as well, same as him. That’s where everything started.”

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR RACING STYLE?

“I would say quite aggressive. Not in the sense that I make really aggressive moves, but more in the way that I am with the car. I’m quite aggressive with the car and like to throw it into the corners, generally I’m quite aggressive. In the races, I tend to get some highlights, a few overtakes so I would say in general, need to keep it sensible and not aggressive in that I’m making stupid moves.”

WHO IS YOUR RACING HERO?

“I think my racing hero is my brother and my dad, got to go back to the old days and where it all started. My brother’s been my hero for a long time, I’ve gained a lot of confidence and I’ve learned a lot from him. My dad used to race bikes around city tracks, so I have some crazy guys in the family and they’ve been my biggest heroes.”

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST RACING ACHIEVEMENT SO FAR?

“Winning the OK Junior European Championship back in 2018, that year we basically won everything there was to win that year. Since then, I’ve won the rookie trophy in Italian Formula 4 and finished third twice in Formula Regional, but that European Championship stands out to me as it’s where everything kind of bloomed for me and took me up another step.

“I was really enjoying what I was doing, had a good synergy with the team I was with and loved the racing environment. I loved being at the track, it was an escape from school for me and everyday life. I really enjoyed the season and by the time we got to the end, I looked back and realised I’d won everything there was to win basically.”

HOW DO YOU RELAX AWAY FROM RACING?

“That’s quite difficult because this year is my final year at school so up to now, I’ve been at school when I’m not racing. There’s not a lot of time between races for me to relax but in a way, school keeps my mind occupied and away from racing so it’s kind of relaxing in its own way.

“In the end, if you don’t do so well at the track, it’s good to have something to get back to that takes your mind off the results and helps you focus on other things. When I do have free time, I like to spend it with my friends and family. There are not many opportunities for that so I try to make the most of it when I do.”

DO YOU HAVE A SECRET TALENT?

“I wouldn’t say this was a secret talent so much but since I was young, I’ve had an issue where my hands sometimes get super sweaty. But the funny thing is, I can control it to the point where if my hands are fully dry, I can turn it on and then they’re immediately sweaty, but then I can’t make them go dry again in 10 seconds. When it happens, it goes crazy, but I can control the timing. I guess it’s a secret talent, or a birth defect but it’s been with me ever since I can remember.”

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE TRACK ON THE F3 CALENDAR?

“From the ones I know, I definitely have to go with Spa-Francorchamps. But having said that, there’s going to be new tracks for me like Silverstone that I’m really looking forward to. Monaco, I’ve been there but sadly last year, I didn’t have my best memories there but it’s an amazing track and the atmosphere is amazing. Monaco is going to be one of the highlights for sure.”