Aston Martin to field F1 rookie line-up for Abu Dhabi FP1

The Aston Martin F1 team has confirmed it will run a complete F1 rookie line-up for the opening practice session in Abu Dhabi this weekend.

Jak Crawford was confirmed last month to be stepping in for Lance Stroll as part of his duties as a junior driver for the team.

However, the squad has now confirmed that Fernando Alonso will not take part in the practice session.

His car will be handed over to Cian Shields, who has taken part in various tests with Aston Martin this year, racking up over 500 kilometres behind the wheel in TPC outings.

Shields took part in the Formula 2 championship this year for AIX Racing and is yet to score a point with one round remaining.

“I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to drive in FP1 with Aston Martin,” Shields said. 

“I’ve learned so much working with the team this year, both in the simulator and through my TPC testing, and to now be trusted with the AMR25 on a Grand Prix weekend is a huge moment for me. 

“I’m looking forward to contributing to the programme on Friday and making the most of the experience.”