Aston Martin has confirmed that 20-year-old junior driver Jack Crawford will make his official Formula 1 debut during the first free practice session (FP1) at this weekend’s Mexican Grand Prix. The Texan racer will replace Lance Stroll in the AMR25 for the opening session at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez circuit, fulfilling F1’s requirement for teams to run a rookie driver in at least two FP1 sessions per season.
Crawford, who joined Aston Martin’s driver development program in 2024 after previously being part of the Red Bull Junior Team, has been putting in extensive simulator and track work behind the scenes. He’s already logged over 2,000 kilometers testing various Aston Martin cars — from the AMR22 to the current AMR25 — and has been a key contributor to the ongoing development of the 2026 AMR26.
Crawford-
“I’ll be driving the AMR25 in Mexico next week. It’ll be my first official F1 session, so I’m really looking forward to it. I’ve been working closely with the team this year, and I’m excited to take the next step and experience a race weekend from inside the cockpit.”
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Rising through the F2 ranks
Crawford’s FP1 outing comes amid a heated F2 title battle. Currently sitting second in the standings, he’s shown consistency and maturity throughout the 2025 campaign. His recent pole-to-win drive in Baku underscored his growing reputation as one of the most promising young drivers on the grid.
Aston Martin CEO and Team Principal Andy Cowell praised the American’s progress:
“We’re delighted to give Jack the opportunity to take part in FP1 in Mexico. He’s shown great maturity and provided excellent technical feedback throughout the season. Opportunities like this are crucial for young drivers, and we’re confident he’ll handle it well.”
Cowell added that Crawford’s simulator work has played a vital role in the team’s ongoing development efforts.
“Jack has been integral to our AMR25 and AMR26 projects. This FP1 outing is a natural next step and will give us valuable on-track data.”
America’s next F1 hope
Born in Texas, Crawford represents the new wave of American drivers aiming to make their mark in Formula 1. While he missed out on a future seat with Cadillac’s upcoming 2026 entry — the team signed Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez as race drivers and Colton Herta as a test driver — his F1 debut with Aston Martin signals that his career trajectory remains on an upward path.
For Crawford, the Mexican GP offers a dream scenario — a first taste of F1 machinery on one of the most atmospheric weekends of the season, surrounded by passionate fans and high altitude challenges that test even the most seasoned drivers.
If he delivers a strong showing, it could further solidify his candidacy for a future race seat — and strengthen America’s footprint on the Formula 1 grid.
