Fernando Alonso will not participate in Free Practice 1 at the Belgian Grand Prix this Friday, July 17, with Aston Martin opting to hand his AMR26 seat to rookie driver Jak Crawford. The American reserve driver has already gained experience stepping in for Lance Stroll during the Austrian Grand Prix.
This decision aligns with the mandatory rookie-running program that all Formula 1 teams must fulfill before the season concludes. Aston Martin has chosen to complete this requirement ahead of the anticipated introduction of a significant upgrade package, aiming to optimize data collection in advance.
Crawford’s previous performance in the AMR26, shown at the Red Bull Ring, was notably impressive. He finished 20th, outperforming both Sergio “Checo” Pérez and Alonso. As the 2025 Formula 2 runner-up, Crawford will now have another opportunity to provide valuable feedback to the engineering team, this time on the legendary Spa-Francorchamps circuit.
Upgrades on the way
The Belgian Grand Prix marks the final race before Alonso and Stroll receive the major aerodynamic and performance upgrades engineered by Adrian Newey. These improvements are intended to address the challenges Aston Martin has faced throughout the season. Despite the upgrades arriving after this weekend, the team is bracing for a demanding race at Spa.
Alonso is set to return behind the wheel for Free Practice 2 at 11:30 a.m. ET on Friday, July 17, resuming his on-track duties following the rookie session.