Fernando Alonso to Miss First Japanese GP Practice

Fernando Alonso will sit out the opening practice session for the Japanese Grand Prix, with Aston Martin test driver Jak Crawford taking his seat to fulfill one of Formula 1's mandatory rookie practice sessions. The move comes as Aston Martin balances its developmental duties with a race weekend program already hampered by reliability issues with its AMR26 car.

Why it matters:

For a team struggling with a problematic car, sacrificing valuable track time for a regular driver is a significant trade-off. This mandatory session forces Aston Martin to prioritize long-term driver development over immediate setup work for Alonso, potentially impacting their weekend performance at a critical, high-speed circuit like Suzuka.

The Details:

• The Rookie Rule: Each F1 team must allocate two first practice sessions per season to a driver with fewer than two Grand Prix starts. Aston Martin is using one of these allocations for Crawford at Suzuka.
• The Replacement Driver: Jak Crawford, the 20-year-old American who was runner-up in the 2025 FIA Formula 2 Championship, will drive the AMR26. He was announced as the team's official reserve and test driver at the end of last season.
• Crawford's Preparation: The young driver has completed over 3,000 kilometers in Aston Martin machinery through testing and participated in two FP1 sessions late in the 2025 season. He emphasized translating simulator work to real-world conditions at the demanding Suzuka circuit.
• Team's Challenging Context: The decision is notable given the AMR26's ongoing issues, which have already limited running for both Alonso and teammate Lance Stroll during the early part of the season.

What's Next:

Crawford's session will provide valuable data, but the core team focus will quickly shift back to Alonso and Stroll for the remainder of the weekend. The performance gap after FP1 and how quickly Alonso can get up to speed in FP2 will be a key storyline to watch as the Japanese Grand Prix weekend unfolds from March 27-29.