Jak Crawford to step back into the Aston Martin in Austria

It is happening again for Jak Crawford. Aston Martin has confirmed that their third driver will climb into the AMR26 for the Free Practice 1 session at the upcoming Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring. This is a massive moment for the 21-year-old, marking his fourth FP1 appearance for the team and his second of the 2026 season following his run in Japan.

He is taking over Lance Stroll’s car for the one-hour session, a venue Crawford knows intimately from his time in F2 and F3. It is a full-circle moment, as the American returns to the very place he first experienced an Aston Martin F1 car back in June 2024. Coming off a recent tyre test in Barcelona, Crawford is clearly looking to make an impact, stating, “Every opportunity in a Formula 1 car is valuable, and I’ll be focused on delivering useful feedback.”

Team Chief Trackside Officer Mike Krack noted the importance of this seat time for their development programme. By fulfilling one of the team's four mandated rookie practice runs, Crawford continues to integrate himself into the Aston Martin fold, proving that the simulator work he has put in all season is finally transitioning back to the track.