Aston Martin announce Japanese GP FP1 driver change

Aston Martin has confirmed that reserve driver Jak Crawford will make his first free practice appearance of the 2026 F1 season at the Japanese Grand Prix, stepping in for Fernando Alonso during FP1 at Suzuka.

The outing forms part of the team’s mandated rookie driver allocation and comes at a time when Aston Martin is seeking to recover from a difficult start to the campaign, having struggled to even get the AMR26 on track in the opening rounds.

Crawford, who serves as the team’s third driver, will take the wheel of Alonso's car for the opening session of the weekend, marking another step in his continued integration within the Silverstone-based outfit.

The 20-year-old has played a significant role behind the scenes through extensive simulator work, something that could prove particularly valuable given Suzuka is a circuit he has yet to experience in real-world conditions.

Despite that, Crawford is not entirely new to Formula 1 machinery. He has already taken part in two FP1 sessions towards the end of last season and has accumulated over 3,000 kilometres in Aston Martin cars. His Suzuka appearance will therefore be his third FP1 outing in less than six months.

"I’m really excited to get behind the wheel and drive for the team at Suzuka," Crawford said. "It’s such a historic yet demanding circuit, and I can’t wait to apply what I’ve learned in the simulator to real track conditions.

"A big thank you to the team for giving me this opportunity. As with my previous FP1 sessions, I’m looking forward to making the most of it and learning as much as I can.”

Aston Martin’s chief trackside officer, Mike Krack, underlined the importance of the session both for Crawford’s development and the team’s wider programme.

"It’s great that we’re able to give Jak another opportunity in FP1 as part of our ongoing commitment to developing young talent," he said.

"He has been working hard, especially in the simulator back at Silverstone, and this session will allow him to continue building valuable track experience.

"It’s an important opportunity for him to keep progressing, while also contributing to the team by gathering useful data and feedback."