Rising American prospect Jak Crawford will take over Stroll’s AMR26 during first practice at the Red Bull Ring as Aston Martin fulfils its rookie driver requirements.
Aston Martin have officially confirmed that Lance Stroll will step aside for the opening practice session of next weekend’s Austrian Grand Prix, with reserve driver Jak Crawford set to take the wheel of the AMR26 at the Red Bull Ring.
The move forms part of Formula 1’s mandatory rookie driver programme, which requires every team to hand each of its cars to a rookie driver on at least two occasions during the season. Crawford will therefore replace Stroll for FP1 before the Canadian returns to the cockpit for the remainder of the race weekend.
The announcement comes during a difficult campaign for Stroll. The Aston Martin driver is yet to score a point in the opening seven race weekends of the 2026 season, although he did achieve a notable milestone at the Spanish Grand Prix by outqualifying team-mate Fernando Alonso for the first time in nearly two years.
While Stroll’s absence from FP1 is procedural rather than performance-related, it gives Aston Martin another valuable opportunity to evaluate one of the most highly rated young drivers in their programme.
Crawford Continues Aston Martin Development Role
Crawford has become an increasingly important figure within Aston Martin’s driver development structure. The American was appointed the team’s official third driver for 2026 following Felipe Drugovich’s departure and has already completed several Formula 1 outings in recent seasons.
After participating in FP1 sessions in Mexico City and Abu Dhabi during 2025, Crawford returned to action earlier this year at the Japanese Grand Prix. He has also spent extensive time supporting the Silverstone-based outfit through simulator work and recently took part in tyre testing duties in Barcelona.
Speaking ahead of his latest Formula 1 appearance, Crawford expressed his excitement about returning to the cockpit.
“It’s great to have another opportunity to drive the AMR26 during a race weekend. Austria is a circuit I know well and it’s 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.
“I’ve spent a lot of time in the simulator this season supporting the team and recently completed the tyre test in Barcelona, so I’m looking forward to applying that work on track. Every opportunity in an F1 car is valuable, and I’ll be focused on delivering useful feedback and maximising the session for the team.”
Who Is Jak Crawford?
Born in Charlotte, North Carolina, in 2005, Crawford emerged as one of the brightest talents in junior motorsport after beginning karting at just six years old.
His rise through the ranks included success in the NACAM Formula 4 Championship before progressing to European single-seaters and eventually becoming part of the Red Bull Junior Team. His standout performances in Formula 3 and Formula 2 established him as a serious Formula 1 prospect.
Crawford spent three seasons in Formula 2, securing six victories and consistently challenging at the front of the field. His strongest campaign came in 2025 when he finished runner-up in the championship behind Leonardo Fornaroli, claiming four wins and two pole positions.
Following his departure from Red Bull’s junior programme, Aston Martin moved quickly to secure his services, integrating him into their Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) programme and eventually promoting him to a full reserve and development role.
Valuable Opportunity Ahead of Crucial Season Phase
For Aston Martin, the Austrian Grand Prix presents another chance to gather valuable data while continuing Crawford’s development as a potential future Formula 1 driver.
Although the session will have little impact on Stroll’s race weekend preparations, Crawford’s performance will be closely watched inside the paddock. With Formula 1 teams placing increasing emphasis on nurturing young talent, every kilometre completed in a current-generation car represents an important step toward a potential race seat in the future.
As Aston Martin look to strengthen their long-term driver pipeline, Crawford’s latest FP1 outing offers another opportunity to demonstrate why many believe he could eventually earn a permanent place on the Formula 1 grid.