Key Highlights:
- Aston Martin Third Driver Jak Crawford will drive Lance Stroll’s AMR26 during Free Practice 1 at the Mexico City Grand Prix.
- The Mexico outing marks Crawford’s fourth FP1 session of the 2026 campaign, officially satisfying Aston Martin’s mandatory rookie practice requirements.
- The announcement came during Crawford’s home race weekend at the United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas.
Jak Crawford Set for Mexico City FP1 Outing with Aston Martin
Aston Martin has confirmed that reserve and development talent Jak Crawford will return to the cockpit of the AMR26 for the opening practice session at the upcoming Mexico City Grand Prix. The 21-year-old American will take over Lance Stroll’s car during Free Practice 1 at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, recording his fourth official on-track appearance of the 2026 Formula 1 season.
The announcement was formally made during Crawford’s home race weekend at the United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas. Crawford, who has served as Aston Martin’s Third Driver throughout the 2026 championship, previously took part in FP1 sessions at Suzuka in Japan, the Red Bull Ring in Austria, and Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium, where he earned a personal-best session finish of 20th place in Austria.
Extensive Simulator Work and Development Contributions
Since wrapping up his third campaign in Formula 2 last year, Crawford has taken on substantial developmental responsibilities for the Silverstone-based team. His duties have focused on extensive track testing and simulator support designed to aid the outfit as it works to extract performance and overcome deficits in its power unit and chassis package.
The session in Mexico City holds particular personal significance for Crawford, serving as the venue where he made his initial grand prix weekend practice bow last season after entering the Aston Martin Driver Development Programme in 2024.
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“I’m really looking forward to getting back behind the wheel of the AMR26 in Mexico City,” said Crawford, who joined the Aston Martin Driver Development Programme in 2024.
“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 Leadership Endorses Crawford’s Progress
Aston Martin Chief Trackside Officer Mike Krack emphasized the value of the young driver’s continued development and his ongoing contributions to the squad’s weekend preparations.
“We are pleased to give Jak another opportunity in the AMR26. He returns to Mexico City with considerably more experience than when he made his FP1 debut there last year,” said Mike Krack.
“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.”
Why This Matters
Crawford’s outing at the Mexico City Grand Prix marks a critical operational checkpoint for Aston Martin, as it officially fulfills the team’s mandated rookie practice allocations for the 2026 championship. Formula 1 regulations require teams to field young drivers in designated FP1 sessions across the season, giving emerging talents vital seat time in current-spec machinery.
Beyond meeting regulatory quotas, Crawford’s run offers Aston Martin direct correlation data between their track-running AMR26 and the simulator platform. As the team continues working to improve chassis and power unit capabilities, having a driver familiar with both digital simulations and live race weekends provides engineers with vital baseline feedback heading into qualifying and race day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Whose car will Jak Crawford drive at the Mexico City Grand Prix?
Jak Crawford will pilot Lance Stroll’s AMR26 during the Free Practice 1 (FP1) session at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.
How many FP1 sessions has Jak Crawford completed in the 2026 season?
The Mexico City GP will mark Crawford’s fourth Free Practice 1 session of the 2026 season, following prior outings in Japan, Austria, and Belgium.
Does this session fulfill Aston Martin’s rookie driver requirements?
Yes. Aston Martin confirmed that Crawford’s participation in Free Practice 1 in Mexico will fulfill the team’s mandated rookie practice running for the 2026 season.
