Jak Crawford impressed once again at the 2025 Formula E Berlin Rookie Test, finishing fourth overall after a consistent and confident showing at the Tempelhof circuit. Returning to the all-electric series with Andretti, the American driver took full advantage of the opportunity to build on his growing bank of Formula E experience while balancing an intense Formula 2 campaign.
A refreshing change of pace
Fresh off a victory at Silverstone in F2, Crawford welcomed the shift to Formula E machinery as a way to reset and challenge himself in new ways.
“It feels really good,” he told Pit Debrief. “I’m excited. It’s been a long time driving F2 now. For the last couple of weeks, we had five rounds in six weeks, so it went a bit chaotic. So, glad to get back in something different, have a little bit of a different challenge.”
A steep learning curve, but familiar territory
This marked Crawford’s third time behind the wheel of a Formula E car, and his familiarity with the unique demands of the series has clearly grown. Despite this, he acknowledged the unique challenges posed by Formula E machinery.
“It’s a completely different way of driving, you know, with the powertrain and all. It’s very complicated on the brakes, especially. That’s a whole different driving challenge for me, and it’s something you have to adapt to,” he explained. “Luckily, I’ve done a lot of sim, so I’m used to it. But again, it’s nice to get back in the car and also try and be quite competitive in it.”
His rapid improvement was evident across sessions and is no accident. He has dedicated countless hours to his preparation, both through simulator work and in-person experience.
“I remember my first time here last year was only after half a day of sim and here for the race weekend. Now, I’ve done loads of days in the sim. I’ve been at most of the races this year,” he said. “So, I’ve seen a lot, and I feel like I’m definitely way more prepared than probably anyone else is, I’ll be honest.”
Looking ahead to 2026
Crawford remains firmly in the running for the 2025 F2 title, but with championship regulations preventing a title defence, his eyes are already on what comes next.
“At the moment, I’m still looking at all different options, you know, between Formula 1 and Formula E, trying to decide what’s best,” he said. “Obviously, the F2 season goes quite long in the year, which makes it a bit tricky because you never know how your season’s going to go. You could have a really good last few rounds, and that makes it a bit tough.”
“But yeah, definitely looking at some options for next year. I think it’s safe to say F2 is not going to be my future next year.”
Adaptability as a key asset
With racing commitments spanning F2, Formula E and work within the Aston Martin Racing ecosystem, Crawford places high value on flexibility.
“I think the biggest thing about the Formula 2 level is being adaptable,” he noted. “What I’m doing this year on the Formula E side, on the Formula 1 side, it’s all helping me be more adaptable.”
“As a young driver, especially in these series with little amounts of practice, you need to be adaptable. Being able to jump in different cars and handle different driving techniques is also helping me.”
Formula E’s rising appeal among the young
The rookie test featured a growing number of drivers from different ranks — a sign of the series’ increasing relevance and appeal. For Crawford, the reason is clear. Having noted the increased speed of Formula E machinery, he views it as a proper step into the top tier of motorsport.
“You know, it’s a growing series, of course. The cars are getting quicker and quicker, and the technology is always growing. As that happens, it becomes more of a realistic option — a proper step up from F2 or F3, wherever you’re coming from.”
“In the past, it’s been a little bit slower, but now the cars are getting faster and faster. It’s always been really competitive in Formula E, that’s no doubt. But also, the teams are at a very high level, which makes it quite intriguing as well.”
“So, as the cars get better and better, I think it’s getting more attractive to younger people.”
Jak Crawford’s Formula E Rookie Test fourth-place result in Berlin may have been just one part of a busy season, but it highlighted his growing competence and confidence in electric racing. Whether his path leads to Formula 1 or Formula E in 2026, his preparation, adaptability, and openness to new challenges continue to set him apart from his peers.
