Crawford Set for Second 2026 FP1 Appearance with Aston Martin in Austria

Aston Martin reserve driver Jak Crawford is scheduled to make his second Formula 1 free practice appearance of the 2026 season during opening practice at the Austrian Grand Prix. The 20-year-old American will take over Lance Stroll's AMR26 at the Red Bull Ring, continuing his steady integration into the team's long-term development plans while adding to his growing Grand Prix weekend experience.

Why it matters:

The outing represents Aston Martin's second of four mandatory rookie practice sessions for 2026, underscoring the team's commitment to preparing Crawford for a potential future on the grid. Having already accumulated more than 3,800 kilometres of F1 running through simulator work and private testing, Crawford has established himself as one of the most experienced young drivers currently outside the Formula One grid.

The details:

• Crawford's upcoming run marks his fourth FP1 appearance with the Silverstone-based squad overall, and his second of the current campaign.
• He recently completed a productive Pirelli tyre test in Barcelona, providing crucial preparation ahead of his return to race weekend action.
• The Red Bull Ring holds particular significance for Crawford, who claimed victories there during his FIA Formula 2 and Formula 3 campaigns, and who also drove Aston Martin's AMR22 at the same venue in June 2024.
• Crawford emphasized that every opportunity in an F1 car is valuable, stating he will focus on delivering useful feedback and maximizing the session for the engineers.

What's next:

With continued simulator support throughout the season and two further mandatory rookie sessions still to come, Crawford remains firmly embedded within Aston Martin's future talent pipeline. The Austrian outing should provide another solid benchmark as he builds toward a potential full-time Formula 1 opportunity and continues to justify the team's investment in his development.