Jak Crawford targets F1 as he shines in F2 and joins Aston Martin as reserve driver.
Currently well-placed in the F2 championship (5th with 100 points), Jak Crawford has also, since this year, taken on the role of reserve driver for Aston Martin F1—setting his sights on a potential F1 seat.
The runner-up in the 2020 German Formula 4 championship and 13th in the last F2 season, Crawford’s rise to the pinnacle of motorsport has not been meteoric… But his journey indeed started from afar, climbing the ranks at a precocious age.
The American’s path has not been straightforward: he had to uproot himself at a very young age, crossing the Atlantic to pursue his dream.
“I was only 10 years old when I knew I had to start racing in Europe.”
Why leave the United States, where an IndyCar career might have beckoned?
“I did a lot of karting in the States when I was a kid, and there are a few big races each year in the US where European drivers come and perform exceptionally well. It was at one of these events that my family and I realized that high-level karting is in Europe, and you have to race there to really showcase what you can do.”
“Karting in Europe is a different challenge, it’s intense; you learn a lot—quickly—and it can be quite humbling. Everyone is so eager to reach the top of the sport. You have to keep up, or you’ll fall behind.”
“I participated in my first race in Europe in 2015, and it was monumental. I was 10 years old and I finished second; it was then that my family and I knew we had to start racing in Europe more frequently.”
At the tender age of 13, Crawford moved to Europe on his own…
“It was strange. Very strange. In 2018, it was the first time I had travelled alone.”
“My parents had always been with me everywhere. It was the first time they weren’t with me at every step, but I had a good group of people around me and I was very fortunate. In such a situation, you mature quickly. You have to do things by yourself, you need to become more independent. You grow up fast.”
“That year, I was offered a great opportunity to race in Europe and I took it. I wasn’t really living anywhere. I just went to all the races for six or seven months, travelling with the team.”
“In 2020, I started racing in Formula 4 in Europe. I raced in Italian and German F4, and it was then that I moved almost permanently, so from 2018, I was mostly on my own.”
“It is difficult for any young person to become a professional racing driver. You can’t go to school as you normally would, you have to leave your family, and there will be times when you are alone.”
Logan Sargeant knows this too: breaking into F1, as an American, is much harder than if you are German or Italian…
“It’s not easy for Americans who are based far away,” Crawford confirms. “They have to show a lot of commitment. There are many sacrifices needed to race in Europe, especially if you are not European.”
“I was so young when I moved. I didn’t really understand the sacrifice needed at the time. Racing was what I wanted to do and I got the chance, so I took it. I was barely a teenager when I came to Europe to race. It’s something huge and you sacrifice a great part of your life to do it.”
Crawford subsequently climbed the ranks of the junior formulas: he entered F3 at the youngest possible age and rapidly progressed to F2.
“My second season in F3 was similar to my first because I lacked the discipline and maturity needed to learn from the experience of my first year.”
“I was in F3 when I was just 16 years old. Then, I joined F2 at 17 and even now, I’m only in my second year, having just turned 19.”
“And the drivers are getting younger and younger. Drivers like Max Verstappen and Lance (Stroll) have shown that you can be very young in F1 and succeed. You see young drivers performing and you realize that you can be as young and compete with those at the top of the series.”
“I have no regrets, but in hindsight, I think it might have been better to slow down a bit, to gain more experience first.”
Crawford is a regular on the Aston Martin F1 simulator
Now, Crawford has gained some serenity or stability by also becoming a reserve driver at Aston Martin F1.
But what exactly does his role entail at the Silverstone campus?
“I had the chance to drive an F1 car for the first time with the team, which was obviously huge for me personally.”
“It’s great to be here. I learn a lot every time I’m on the track with the team and at the AMR technical campus.”
“I’ve really enjoyed getting to know everyone and integrating into the team. I’ve worked a lot in the simulator and learned from some of the engineers and from the car itself. It’s extremely beneficial for me.”
And now? Is he aiming for an F1 seat? Why not replace Fernando Alonso when he retires?
“I’m young, but I feel like a veteran in the junior series. It feels like I’ve been around for a long time, even though I haven’t, and I’m proud of having achieved so much at such a young age.”
“As for the future, I take things year by year and see where I end up. This season, I’m focusing solely on F2 and on doing my best, which means ultimately winning the championship. I’m not setting long-term goals; I don’t want to get ahead of myself. I want to enjoy the race.”
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Crawford’s Climb: From F2 to Aston’s Reserve Driver Seat Crawford’s Climb: From F2 to Aston’s Reserve Driver Seat
