Mikhail Aleshin

Aleshin competed in karting from 1996 to 2000 before transitioning to open-wheel racing in 2001. On 14 April 2007, he secured his first major international single-seater race win at Monza, competing in the Formula Renault 3.5 Series. Later that year, he deputised for the injured Michael Ammermüller at the second round of the 2007 GP2 Series season with ART Grand Prix, becoming the second Russian driver to race in the series after Vitaly Petrov. He continued in Formula Renault 3.5 in 2008, achieving his best championship finish to date despite not winning a race.

Aleshin joined the relaunched FIA Formula Two Championship in 2009, driving car number 15 and finishing third overall with a single win at Oschersleben. He returned to Formula Renault 3.5 for the 2010 season, partnering Jake Rosenzweig at Carlin, and ultimately secured the championship title with three victories. Following this success, he tested for Renault F1 in Abu Dhabi, expressing confidence in obtaining a Formula One drive for 2011, but a seat did not materialise.

Aleshin remained with Carlin for the 2011 GP2 Series and 2011 GP2 Asia Series, marking the team’s first season in the category and Aleshin’s return to GP2 since 2007. He experienced a difficult Asia series, hampered by technical issues, and subsequently lacked the budget to compete in the main series, leading him to the ATS Formel 3 Cup. He briefly returned to GP2 with Carlin, but a crash in qualifying at the Turkish Grand Prix, resulting in injuries to both hands, curtailed his participation. He returned to action at Catalunya, but was later replaced by Oliver Turvey due to funding issues, and later again by Parente for the season finale at Monza, finishing 32nd and last in the overall standings.

In 2014, Aleshin transitioned to the IndyCar Series, racing with Schmidt Peterson Motorsports. At Fontana, during the final race of the 2014 IndyCar season, Aleshin was involved in a significant accident during practice. He clipped the apron of Turn 4 at over 200 mph, causing a spin, and was subsequently hit by Charlie Kimball. The impact sent both cars into the outside retaining wall, with Aleshin’s car vaulting over Kimball’s and impacting the catch fencing. Aleshin was diagnosed with a concussion, fractured ribs, a broken right clavicle, and chest injuries, requiring hospitalisation in critical condition. Kimball stated, “The 7 car spun from the bottom and I really had nowhere to go.”

Aleshin’s career included participation in various other series, including the 24 Hours of Daytona, European Le Mans Series, and the FIA World Endurance Championship, as documented in the career results tables.