Jak Crawford’s triumphant victory at Silverstone has catapulted the American driver back into serious championship contention in his third F2 season. The DAMS Lucas Oil pilot, still amongst the youngest competitors on the grid, has transformed what began as a disappointing campaign into a genuine title challenge that he always believed was within his capabilities.
From struggles to strength
The 2025 season opened with Crawford facing unexpected difficulties. After impressive performances through the junior formulae, the early rounds proved challenging for the young American.
“It’s been a good year, I feel like I’m where I expected to be,” Crawford reflected. “The first two rounds were rough. It was definitely a slow start to the season, not scoring in the first four races of the year.”
However, the turning point came at Round 3 in Jeddah, where Crawford secured pole position and a second-place finish. “Then I started getting my season on track with a pole and P2 in Jeddah, that’s where we should have been. We’ve been consistently scoring good points ever since then.”
Statistical dominance
The numbers tell a compelling story of Crawford’s resurgence. Since that breakthrough weekend in Jeddah, he has emerged as the highest points scorer in the championship, accumulating 116 points between Rounds 3 and Silverstone. This remarkable consistency has not gone unnoticed by Crawford himself.
“It’s given me a lot of confidence. My main goal was to fix inconsistencies and places where we qualified quite poorly last year. Formula 2 is a lot about consistency, that’s what you need to win championships. You need to score around 15 points or more every weekend, and I’ve had that every single weekend since Jeddah.”
The unpredictable nature of F2 racing means that maintaining such consistency requires both skill and fortune. Crawford acknowledges the fine margins that can determine championship outcomes: “It’s just so tough, anything can go wrong – Alex getting disqualified in Red Bull Ring, or the Feature Race in Monaco, these things can happen. If it’s in a Feature Race, that’s a lot of points that could be a huge swing.”
Despite these variables, Crawford maintains a clear focus on his ultimate objective. “I know what I need to achieve each weekend. My goal is to win the Championship. And I know what I need to achieve each weekend to get that. Some weekends are not going to go your way, so then you need other results to make up for that.”
The value of continuity
Perhaps the most significant factor in Crawford’s improved performance has been his decision to remain with DAMS for a second consecutive season. For the first time in his single-seater career, he has benefited from continuity, and the results speak for themselves.
“Being with the same team – I know the car, I know how everything works and what’s needed. Changing teams two years ago, nothing really correlated because it’s just so, so different. Now I’m driving pretty much the same car, it’s a lot easier to just fix those little mistakes.”
This stability has allowed Crawford and his team to build upon previous learning rather than starting from scratch. The 20-year-old draws parallels with his karting days, where such continuity proved highly beneficial.
“It’s something that I really value. I think it’s very important, and it’s been a shame I haven’t had that before, because I had that a lot in karting growing up, and it really worked for me. Then through single seaters, it’s not been like that.”
The established working relationship has created a more efficient development process. “So now I’m working with the same group of people. I know how they work, they know what I need from the car, and they know how I drive, and it’s just makes everything a lot easier, and it makes the working process work a lot more efficiently.”
Crawford explains that the 2024 season served as a foundation year for this partnership: “I think for me, it’s just the type of person I am. I like to dig into things with the team and last year, when doing that, it was just that we didn’t know how it was going to be, because it was so different the previous year, my experience and their experience in 2023.”
The collaborative learning process has now evolved into a more refined operation. “So last year was almost like learning things together in a way, and learning how to work together as a group, and now we’re working together as a group, and we’re able to improve.”
Areas for improvement
Despite his recent success, Crawford remains focused on areas where further progress is needed. Qualifying performance stands out as a particular priority, given the competitive nature of F2 and the importance of track position.
“I’d like to qualify better. I mean, my qualifying average is probably not the best in the field. I’d still say it’s up there. It’s quite difficult to be consistent in F2, but there’s been a few others that have qualified more consistently than us. So it would be good to get a couple more top threes in Qualifying.”
Improved qualifying positions would provide DAMS with greater strategic options during race weekends. “That just almost for us, reassures us that we’re going to have good points in the race, because we always know we can go forward, even starting in the top three.”
However, Crawford remains confident in the team’s race-day capabilities regardless of starting position. “It’s still been good in the races. The car is good, clearly, no matter where we start, as we saw in Red Bull Ring. So we know we can fight for Feature Race wins.”
Championship mindset
Now positioned second in the championship standings following his Silverstone triumph, Crawford finds himself in genuine title contention. His approach to this situation reveals the mentality of a driver who has always expected to be fighting for championships.
When asked about his preference between chasing and being chased, Crawford’s response demonstrates tactical awareness beyond his years. “I’d rather be the chased. That’s just what I prefer, I like to have that advantage. Chasing sucks, because that means you have to get a good result always.”
This preference stems from the advantages of leading rather than pursuing. “It’s not like I need to go out and do anything extra to chase Richard down, but I feel like it’s a lot easier. It’s just a better position to be in. I mean you’re leading. So that’s the aim.”
Looking towards the rest of the season
Crawford’s transformation from a slow starter to championship contender illustrates both his personal development and the benefits of stability in motorsport. His statistical dominance since Jeddah, combined with the continuity provided by remaining with DAMS, has created the perfect conditions for a sustained title challenge.
As the 2025 F2 season progresses, Crawford’s combination of experience, and improved consistency positions him as a formidable competitor for the championship. His methodical approach to championship mathematics, understanding of the series’ demands, and clear identification of areas for improvement suggest that his recent success at Silverstone may be just the beginning of a sustained championship assault.
The American’s journey from disappointment to contention serves as a reminder that in F2, as in all forms of motorsport, persistence and continuous development often prove more valuable than early-season flash. With half the season remaining and Crawford hitting his stride, the championship fight promises to intensify significantly.
