Aston Martin has announced that Jak Crawford will drive Lance Stroll\u2019s car in FP1 at next weekend\u2019s Austrian Grand Prix.<\/p>\n
Crawford was appointed Aston Martin\u2019s third driver ahead of the F1 2026 season after finishing second in the 2025 F2 standings.<\/p>\n
Lance Stroll to sit out Austrian Grand Prix FP1<\/p>\n
Want more PlanetF1.com coverage? Add us as a preferred source on Google<\/a> to your favourites list for news you can trust<\/p>\n The American driver participated in a Pirelli tyre test earlier this week following the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix.<\/p>\n Under F1\u2019s rules, teams are required to field a rookie driver \u2013 defined as a driver who has started no more than two grands prix \u2013 in four FP1 sessions, two in each car, over the course of a season.<\/p>\n Crawford made his first FP1 appearance of the season in March at the Japanese Grand Prix, where he deputised for two-time world champion Fernando Alonso.<\/p>\n The 21-year-old lapped slowest of all in FP1 at Suzuka, trailing Stroll by one second.<\/p>\n Lance Stroll vs Fernando Alonso: Aston Martin head-to-head stats for F1 2026 season<\/p>\n F1 2026: Head-to-head qualifying statistics between teammates<\/a><\/p>\n F1 2026: Head-to-head race statistics between teammates<\/a><\/p>\n In a statement issued to PlanetF1.com on Friday, Aston Martin has confirmed that Crawford will deputise for Stroll in the opening practice session at the Red Bull Ring next weekend.<\/p>\n Crawford said: \u201cIt\u2019s great to have another opportunity to drive the AMR26 during a race weekend.<\/p>\n \u201cAustria is a circuit I know well and it\u2019s quite special to be returning to the Red Bull Ring with the team, almost two years after my first test in an Aston Martin F1 car.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve spent a lot of time in the simulator this season supporting the team and recently completed the tyre test in Barcelona, so I\u2019m looking forward to applying that work on track.<\/p>\n \u201cEvery opportunity in a Formula 1 car is valuable and I\u2019ll be focused on delivering useful feedback and maximising the session for the team.\u201d<\/p>\n Mike Krack, the former Aston Martin team principal who now serves as chief trackside officer, added: \u201cJak continues to play an important role as third driver and this FP1 session is another valuable step in that process.<\/p>\n \u201cHe has been heavily involved in our simulator programme throughout the season and recently completed productive running during the Pirelli tyre test in Barcelona.<\/p>\n \u201cAustria provides another opportunity for us to evaluate his progress in a race weekend environment while gathering valuable data for the team.\u201d<\/p>\n Crawford\u2019s appearance in Austria will see him return to the circuit where he first tested an Aston Martin F1 car in July 2024.<\/p>\n The team states that Crawford has since carried out more than 3,800 kilometres in F1 machinery, making him one of the most experienced young drivers currently without a Formula 1 race seat.<\/p>\n Want to be the first to know exclusive information from the F1 paddock? Join our broadcast channel on WhatsApp<\/a> to get the scoop on the latest developments from our team of accredited journalists.<\/p>\n You can also subscribe to the PlanetF1 YouTube channel<\/a> for exclusive features, hear from our paddock journalists with stories from the heart of Formula 1 and much more!<\/p>\n