American Jak Crawford Takes Baby Steps Toward F1 Ride

American Jak Crawford, who joined Aston Martin's Young Driver Development Program earlier this year, took the next step toward a possible future seat on the F1 grid with a 250-mile test session at the Red Bull Ring in Austria.

The 19-year-old Formula 2 driver from Charlotte, N.C., drove Aston Martin's AMR22 car from the 2022 F1 season. It was his first time behind the wheel of a Formula 1 car.

“A big thank you to everyone at Aston Martin Aramco who has helped to make this happen and for their support at the test," said Crawford, who is currently 11th in the Formula 2 standings after finishing 13th as a rookie in 2023. "My first day in an F1 car was a great experience and I enjoyed every lap. It was a clean and smooth day for us with no issues and we completed all the running that we wanted to.

"The main goal for me was to get up to speed and get used to the systems of the car. It was a learning process for me and in the end, it was nothing like I’ve ever driven before, especially in the high speed sections. I feel like I adapted quite well and I’m excited for the next one.”

Crawford continues in his role in the Young Driver Development Program. He is with the F1 team on race weekends as an observer and also spends time on team's simulator.

“It is always a special moment seeing a young driver complete their first laps in a Formula One car," said Robert Sattler, Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team Evolution program director. "After a full day of running Jak has gained some valuable experience that he can take forward into his other tests in the program. We know that the switch in driving style between F2 to F1 is not easy, but Jak adapted to the car quickly and he worked well with the team to improve as the day progressed.”