Jak Crawford highlighted the value of working with Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll behind the scenes at Aston Martin in Formula 1. The reserve driver also revealed that the team wants to keep him active so that he is ready in case he needs to take a seat during the season.
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A member of the structure since 2024, the American participated in three TL1 sessions this year and does much of his work in the simulator. His role includes assisting with preparation for the weekends and contributing to the team’s recovery after a championship start marked by difficulties.
Crawford stated that the experience of Alonso and Stroll adds a special dimension to the daily work, mainly because of the stories shared by the two-time world champion. “It’s very cool that they have so much experience and so many stories. It seems that, regardless of the era, motorsport is always the same, whether now or 20 years ago, when Fernando was winning in Formula 1,” he explained to Motorsport Week.
According to the 21-year-old driver, direct contact with the main drivers also allows turning virtual work into useful information for the track. “I do many activities in the simulator, so I can talk to them before each race, explain everything that happened and how the sensations compare with the track. I can also anticipate a bit of what they should expect,” he said.
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Aston Martin introduced a set of 16 updates at the Hungarian GP, after Alonso and Stroll spent much of the season in the last positions. The Spaniard reached Q2 for the first time this year, while the two finished the race in 13th and 14th, respectively.
Although he continues as a reserve, Crawford was given freedom by the team to seek racing opportunities. “They told me that if I remain in the same role next year, they would love for me to be racing. They want me to be ready to compete, whether to take a permanent seat or substitute someone during the season,” he revealed.
The American will continue as a reserve when F1 returns at the Dutch GP. Aston Martin intends to arrive in Zandvoort with an additional update, the Honda power unit in specification B.
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