Aston Martin has confirmed that junior star Jak Crawford will act as the team\u2019s third driver for the F1 2026 season.<\/p>\n
It comes after Yuki Tsunoda, the current Red Bull Racing driver, had been linked with a role with Aston Martin.<\/p>\n
Yuki Tsunoda lifeline shuts as Aston Martin confirms F1 2026 reserve driver<\/p>\n
Tsunoda is likely to be dropped by Red Bull at the end of this season having largely struggled since becoming Max Verstappen\u2019s teammate after the first two races of 2025.<\/p>\n
The 25-year-old is expected to be replaced by Isack Hadjar, who has enjoyed an impressive debut season with the Racing Bulls junior team.<\/p>\n
Aston Martin had emerged as a potential alternative option for the Japanese driver due to Tsunoda\u2019s long-standing links with Honda, which will enter a technical partnership with the Silverstone-based team from F1 2026.<\/p>\n
Tsunoda\u2019s hopes of securing an F1 reprieve with Aston Martin received a further boost last month<\/a> when the team\u2019s current reserve driver, Felipe Drugovich, announced that he will return to full-time competition with Andretti in Formula E later this year.<\/p>\n Analysis: Mexican Grand Prix<\/p>\n \ud83d\udc49\u00a0Mexican GP conclusions: Big Norris chance, Verstappen illusion, new Hamilton document incoming<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83d\udc49\u00a0Mexico City Grand Prix driver ratings: Norris leads perfect 10s; Sainz sorrow<\/a><\/p>\n PlanetF1.com understands from sources close to the situation that Drugovich, the 2022 F2 champion, is likely to cut ties with Aston Martin ahead of the first round of the new Formula E season in December.<\/p>\n In a statement issued to PlanetF1.com on Tuesday, Aston Martin confirmed that Crawford will instead act as the team\u2019s third driver for next season.<\/p>\n The role will see Crawford, the American driver currently competing in the F2 feeder series, attend every race of next year\u2019s 24-calendar as Aston Martin\u2019s reserve driver.<\/p>\n Aston Martin said: \u201cToday we have announced that Young Driver Jak Crawford will become the team\u2019s Third Driver for the 2026 Formula One season.<\/p>\n \u201cThe role sees Jak act as the team\u2019s reserve driver at all races next season.\u201d<\/p>\n More on Aston Martin drivers Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll from PlanetF1.com<\/p>\n \ud83d\udc49 Fernando Alonso news<\/a><\/p>\n