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Crawford Gears Up for Crucial FP1 Run with Aston Martin in Belgium
Highlights
- Jak Crawford to drive Aston Martin’s AMR26 in Belgian GP FP1
- This marks Crawford’s third FP1 outing with Aston Martin in 2026
- Crawford replaced Alonso and Stroll in previous FP1 sessions
- Aston Martin fulfills rookie practice session requirement with Crawford
- Crawford participated in Pirelli tyre test and Goodwood Festival
- He finished second in 2025 Formula 2 with DAMS Lucas Oil
Aston Martin confirms Jak Crawford for Free Practice 1 at Spa, continuing his third-driver duties in the AMR26 at the Belgian Grand Prix.
The American’s outing will be his third FP1 for Aston Martin in 2026, extending a structured programme of rookie mileage.
He first ran at Suzuka in Alonso’s car, then replaced Lance Stroll for FP1 in Austria, reinforcing the team’s evaluation plan. That Austria run is detailed in Aston Martin’s Austrian GP preview.
This appearance completes Aston Martin’s third rookie practice session of the season, aligning with regulations that mandate multiple rookie runs.
Alonso steps aside for Spa FP1, allowing the team to balance championship preparations with development of a potential future race driver.
Crawford’s Spa FP1 completes Aston Martin’s third rookie practice session of 2026.
Late in 2025, Crawford also logged two FP1 outings, underlining a consistent approach to integrating junior talent into live race weekends.
Beyond race events, he drove the AMR25 at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, adding public-facing mileage and procedural familiarity.
In June, he joined a Pirelli tyre test in Barcelona, giving Aston Martin additional data while building his experience in current F1 machinery.
His junior record is strong. He finished second in the 2025 Formula 2 championship with DAMS Lucas Oil, taking four wins and eight podiums.
Crawford finished second in the 2025 Formula 2 standings with four wins and eight podiums.
Spa’s layout should offer representative feedback on balance and tyre behaviour, crucial for setup direction at the Belgian Grand Prix and comparable high-speed venues.
Expect a disciplined programme focused on correlation work, systems checks, and tyre learning, rather than headline times, given FP1’s limited window.
Expect a correlation-led FP1 plan, prioritising data over lap-time headlines at Spa.
This run also lands amid continued interest in the team’s trajectory and Alonso’s long-term plans, explored in analysis of his future at Aston Martin.
The Spa challenge itself remains formidable, with elevation changes and variable weather shaping priorities, as outlined in our Belgian GP challenge preview.
For Crawford, another clean, data-rich session will strengthen his candidacy for future opportunities while serving the team’s immediate competitive needs.
Visual Summary
Jak Crawford Climbs the Aston Martin Rookie Ladder
🇺🇸 Next Stop: Belgian Grand Prix FP1
3 rookie sessions. 3 legendary tracks. One ambitious American on his way up.
Alonso steps aside. Crawford takes the wheel.
Eyes on the future – one climb at a time.
3 rookie sessions. 3 legendary tracks. One ambitious American on his way up.
Alonso steps aside. Crawford takes the wheel.
Eyes on the future – one climb at a time.
4 podiums
in F2 ’25
in F2 ’25
3 F1
FP1 runs in ’26
FP1 runs in ’26
2 teams watched
Crawford impress
Crawford impress
Watch out for Jak Crawford’s green rocket at Spa – every rookie run is a step closer to F1’s future stars.
Daniel Miller reports on Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends with race-day analysis, team-radio highlights, and point-standings updates. He explains power-unit upgrades, aerodynamic developments, and driver rivalries in straightforward, SEO-friendly language for a global F1 audience.
