Aston Martin confirm Mexico City first practice driver replacement

Aston Martin has confirmed that third driver Jak Crawford will take over Lance Stroll's AMR26 for first practice at the Mexico City Grand Prix.

The session at the Autódromo Hermános Rodríguez will be Crawford's fourth FP1 appearance of the season, completing the team's quota of mandatory rookie outings for 2026.

The announcement by Aston Martin was made ahead of Crawford's home race weekend in Austin, with him in the United States Grand Prix paddock to continue supporting the team.

The American will arrive in Mexico City almost exactly a year on from his Formula 1 practice debut, which also came at the same circuit back in 2025.

Since that first outing, the 21-year-old has kept building his case for a future race seat, racking up further race weekend appearances alongside extensive testing and simulator work. His technical feedback and growing experience behind the wheel have continued to impress the team.

Jak Crawford eyes special Mexico City F1 appearance

Speaking about the upcoming session in Mexico City, Crawford said he was relishing the return to a circuit that holds personal significance.

"I'm really looking forward to getting back behind the wheel of the AMR26 in Mexico City," said Crawford.

"It's a special circuit for me as it's where I made my FP1 debut last year, so it's great to return with more experience under my belt. I've learned a lot through my time on track and in the simulator this season, and I'm looking forward to putting that into practice. 

"It's also special to be announcing this during my home race weekend in Austin. As always, the focus will be on making the most of the session and delivering useful feedback for the team."

Aston Martin chief trackside officer Mike Krack explained why the team was keen to hand Crawford another run in the car.

"We are pleased to give Jak another opportunity in the AMR26," said Krack.

"He returns to Mexico City with considerably more experience than when he made his FP1 debut there last year. His contributions through our simulator and testing programmes have been valuable, and this session provides another opportunity to demonstrate his capabilities while supporting the team's preparations for the weekend."