Alpine's Flavio Briatore has revealed the two candidates in the running for the second seat at the team next year.
The French squad recently announced Pierre Gasly had signed a multi-year extension, having originally joined in 2023.
However, the identity of his team-mate has not yet been confirmed, with various names linked to the seat.
Jack Doohan entered the year alongside Gasly but was dropped after six rounds in favour of Franco Colapinto, who remains in the drive today.
Briatore confirmed Colapinto is one of the competitors in contention for an Alpine drive next year, but the Argentine is facing a challenge from reserve driver Paul Aron.
“It's between Franco and Paul,” Briatore told The Race.
“Paul is a very nice guy, a very quick driver as well. And I need to understand what is the best for the team.”
Aron spent the 2024 season racing in Formula 2, finishing third in the standings behind current F1 rookies Gabriel Bortoleto and Isack Hadjar.
Briatore asserted he will base the decision on who he believes has more potential, highlighting he has no personal ties to either candidate.
“I don't have any interest with anybody,” he said.
“Before the people were driving me mad [by complaining] because I was managing 50 per cent of the drivers [on the grid]. Now, I don't manage anybody.
“I don't care. I don't have any interest. My only interest is to try to take in the team the best driver available and do the best job with us. It is as simple as that.
“I need another one or two races to see, but honestly today I don't know [which one].”
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