Jak Crawford will take the wheel of the Aston Martin AMR26 usually driven by Fernando Alonso during Free Practice 1 at the Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka.
Fernando Alonso will sit out FP1 at the Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka, with young driver Jak Crawford stepping in to drive the Aston Martin AMR26. The session will mark the American driver’s first appearance of the season, as well as the first rookie outing of the year for the Silverstone-based team. It represents a perfect opportunity to gain valuable experience and collect important data for the development of a car that has so far failed to meet expectations.
Aston Martin is aiming to move on from the first two race weekends of the season, which have unfolded amid growing media pressure fueled by rumors and unconfirmed speculation. Reports from the paddock suggest that Adrian Newey’s role as team principal is under discussion, with Jonathan Wheatley from Audi potentially set to arrive. For now, however, the team is heading to Japan for the final race before the long April break, where it will entrust the AMR26 to Jak Crawford.
Statements from Crawford and Krack
Jak Crawford: “I’m really excited to get behind the wheel and drive for the team at Suzuka. It’s such a historic but also challenging circuit, and I’m looking forward to applying on track what I’ve learned in the simulator. A big thank you to the team for giving me this opportunity. As in my previous FP1 sessions, I’m eager to make the most of it and learn as much as possible.”
Mike Krack, Chief Trackside Officer: “It’s great to be able to give Jak another FP1 opportunity as part of our ongoing commitment to developing young talent. He has worked hard, especially in the simulator at Silverstone, and this session will allow him to continue building valuable on-track experience. It’s an important opportunity for him to keep progressing while also contributing to the team by gathering useful data and feedback.”
While the eyes of the F1 world are on Aston Martin’s leadership drama, Jak Crawford’s debut in the AMR26 provides a much-needed focus on the future. With the technical challenges of Suzuka serving as the ultimate crucial test for the 2026 machinery, Crawford’s feedback will be vital for the engineers heading into the one-month development break. Based on the content of Mike Krack’s recent briefings, the team is fully committed to using these rookie sessions to find the performance edge that has been missing so far this year.
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