Aston Martin and Adrian Newey: a winning partnership for 2026? Jak Crawford shares his first impressions of the new Honda-powered car
Jak Crawford, the current Formula 2 driver and a member of the Aston Martin driver academy, has revealed that he has been actively involved in helping the team and Honda develop the 2026 car — the first Formula 1 car designed by legendary aerodynamicist Adrian Newey for Aston Martin. “Off-track, I have spent a lot of time in the simulator,” Crawford said in an interview with the team. “I’m helping with the ongoing development of the AMR25 and I’m also working on the 2026 project.”
Crawford’s comments on his simulator work
“It has been exciting to get familiar with the 2026 models in the simulator and, as expected, it’s a bit different from the current cars, with new elements like active aerodynamics that we need to learn to use,” the American driver added. “It’s not a complete representation of what the car will be like at the first race in Australia, but it gives us a good idea.”
“I have worked on the 2026 project in the simulator, and there has been a lot of evolution both on the engine and the chassis. It has been fascinating to see the progress we are making thanks to wind tunnel data and close collaboration with Honda. I had never contributed to the development of an engine before.”
“And I had never faced such a significant regulatory change as a Formula 1 driver, so being able to see things that others cannot and contribute to the project is truly exciting. It’s a privilege,” Jak Crawford concluded regarding his role with Aston Martin.
A grid seat in 2026 thanks to Cadillac?
Jak Crawford could also find himself racing against Aston Martin next season. The young American driver is among the contenders for a seat at Cadillac, which will join the Formula 1 grid as the eleventh team in 2026. “It depends a lot on what I do in Formula 2 this year,” he said.
“If I manage to win the championship, that would be fantastic for my career. It could open many opportunities, whether that’s a race seat or maybe a role as a third driver in Formula 1 next year. We’re looking for any available seat on the grid, whether with Cadillac, Aston Martin, or other teams.”
Currently, Jak Crawford is fighting for the Formula 2 title, sitting second in the standings, 17 points behind leader Leonardo Fornaroli. On the possibility of joining Cadillac, he added: “There have been conversations. I’m talking, but for now things are moving slowly. From my side, I just have to perform well in Formula 2.”
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