Headline: Aston Martin hands FP1 Abu Dhabi seat to Jak Crawford as Stroll steps aside
Aston Martin will give Jak Crawford another Friday shot in Formula 1, confirming the American will take over Lance Stroll’s car for FP1 at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. It’s a repeat of Mexico last month, where Crawford made his official F1 weekend debut and quietly went about his work, ending the session 19th but banking the mileage the team wanted.
Crawford, 20, was recently named Aston Martin’s third driver for 2026 and is set to travel to every race next year as the primary reserve option. Abu Dhabi will also bring a second taste of the AMR25 in anger, plus the traditional post-season Young Driver Test at Yas Marina.
“I’m thrilled to get back behind the wheel of the AMR25 for the second time this season,” Crawford said via the team. “I’ve spent a lot of time in the simulator at the AMR Technology Campus this year and being able to translate that work onto the track is incredibly rewarding. Mexico was a huge learning experience for me and I’m looking forward to continuing that development in both the FP1 session and the Young Driver Test.”
Team principal Andy Cowell called it a straightforward decision. “It’s fantastic to see Jak back in the car so soon after Mexico,” he said. “Building mileage in the car and maintaining momentum is exactly what we aim for in developing our young drivers. This session in Abu Dhabi will be an important step as he prepares for his new role as Third Driver next year, and we’re excited to continue supporting his growth.”
The numbers back up the programme. Crawford has already logged more than 2,100 kilometres in F1 machinery, and he’s been a near-permanent presence in the simulator throughout 2025. That’s fed into development of both the current car and next season’s Adrian Newey-penned, Honda-powered AMR26 — the project that looms over everything in Silverstone as the team resets for the new era.
Stroll, who’ll cede the car again on Friday, had a simple read on his junior’s trajectory. “Sure, why not?” he said when asked if Crawford has what it takes to reach F1. “He’s done really well in F2 and when he’s been in the cars, he’s done well. I think he’s been a team player all year, putting a lot of time and effort into the simulator and really engaging with the team when he’s been here. So, for sure, I wish him only the best with his career. He’s a great kid. I’m sure he has a lot of attention.”
As for day-to-day interaction, Stroll added: “Just here at the races and stuff when he’s here. I know he puts a lot of time and effort in the simulator. I’m involved in that when I go there and I hear about what’s going on, so he’s definitely put a lot of time and effort into just engaging with the team in all aspects, which has been great to see.”
There’s a live championship subplot too. Crawford returns to Formula 2 duty with DAMS at next weekend’s Qatar round, the series’ first outing since Azerbaijan in September. He sits second in the standings, 19 points off Leonardo Fornaroli with two rounds to go. Abu Dhabi will therefore double as a useful tune-up before he’s back in Yas Marina’s paddock chasing an F2 title — the kind of high-pressure week that tends to reveal who’s ready for the next step.
Bigger picture, Aston Martin’s approach looks deliberate. Give the prospect laps. Keep him embedded with the race team. Let him translate thousands of sim kilometres into track craft. With Honda coming in and the AMR26 representing a fresh start, the team’s pipeline matters again. Abu Dhabi FP1 is only an hour, but for Crawford, it’s more bricks in a wall the team clearly intends to build high.
