The Aston Martin F1 Team has announced a significant step forward for one of its rising talents, confirming that Jak Crawford will take up the position of Third Driver for the 2026 F1 season. The American driver will serve as the team’s reserve driver at all races throughout the upcoming campaign.
Extensive experience in F1 machinery
Crawford, who is just 20 years old, joined Aston Martin’s Young Driver Development Programme in 2024 and has since accumulated an impressive amount of experience behind the wheel of F1 machinery. Indeed, the young American has clocked up over 2,000 kilometres in F1 cars. Most notably, his most recent milestone came at the Mexico City GP, where he made his Grand Prix weekend debut by driving Lance Stroll’s AMR25 during the first practice session.
Key role in simulator development work
The 2025 season has seen Crawford become an integral part of the team’s operations at the AMR Technology Campus in Silverstone, where he has been a regular presence in the simulator. His technical feedback has proved invaluable, supporting both race operations with the current AMR25 and the crucial development work on the team’s 2026 challenger, the AMR26.
Strong F2 campaign continues
Away from his F1 commitments, Crawford is currently in his third F2 season, where he has been demonstrating his credentials with an impressive campaign. He currently sits second in the Drivers’ Championship as the series prepares to head to Qatar next month for the first of the final two rounds.
Reflecting on his promotion, Crawford said, “I’m incredibly proud to be confirmed as the Third Driver for 2026. It’s a huge moment in my journey with Aston Martin Aramco and a big motivation to keep learning and contributing.
“Over the past two seasons, I’ve learned so much from being in the Formula 1 environment, both at the factory and trackside. I’ll be doing everything I can to support the team and continue developing as a driver.”
Andy Cowell, CEO and Team Principal of the Aston Martin F1 Team, expressed his satisfaction with Crawford’s progression. “It is great to see Jak progress to become our Third Driver for 2026,” he said. “Over the past two years, he has shown his value as a key member of our driver squad and built up a valuable bank of experience and test mileage.”
“Jak has impressed in the simulator, having completed regular sessions at the AMR Technology Campus to support our race operations and car development. Jak’s performances in Formula 2 have also been outstanding, and we are excited to continue supporting his growth as he takes on a bigger role.”
The appointment represents a natural progression for Crawford within the Aston Martin F1 Team structure and as the sport prepares for significant regulatory changes in 2026, having a capable reserve driver will be crucial for the Silverstone-based outfit’s ambitions.
