Jak Crawford Shines in Aston Martin F1 Debut

Jak Crawford impresses in his debut F1 test, piloting an Aston Martin at the iconic Red Bull Ring.

Crawford had his first taste of driving a Formula 1 car yesterday, logging over 400 km at the Red Bull Ring, home of the Austrian Grand Prix, marking his track debut with the Aston Martin F1 team.

The 19-year-old American, currently in his second season of Formula 2, took the wheel of the 2022 AMR22 in Austria.

The fine weather in the Styrian hills throughout the day allowed Crawford uninterrupted track time, enabling him to complete a variety of short and long stints to better understand the car and tires.

This test is the latest step in the young driver development program for Crawford, who will continue to join Aston Martin F1 at races to observe and learn from the lead drivers and the team. He will also continue to support race operations at the AMR technology campus simulator.

“A big thank you to everyone who has contributed to achieving this goal at Aston Martin F1 and who supported during the tests. My first day in an F1 was an amazing experience and I enjoyed every lap. It was a clean and smooth day for us, with no issues, and we completed all the tests we wanted.”

“The main goal for me was to get up to speed and get used to the car’s systems. It was a learning process for me and ultimately, it was unlike anything I had driven before, especially in the high-speed sections. I feel like I adapted quite well and I’m looking forward to the next test.”

Robert Sattler, director of the team’s development program, adds: “It’s always a special moment to see a young driver take their first laps in a Formula 1 car. After a full day of running, Jak gained valuable experience that he can use in further tests of our program. We know that changing driving styles from F2 to F1 is not easy, but Jak quickly adapted to the car and worked well with the team to improve throughout the day.”