Aston Martin tested F2 driver Jak Crawford in private tests
Jak Crawford, a young 19-year-old American driver, took his first steps in Formula 1 this week at the Red Bull Ring. By completing more than 400 km of running, he made his debut with the Aston Martin team. Currently in his second season in Formula 2 with the French team DAMS, Jak Crawford got behind the wheel of the AMR22 in Austria.
The ideal weather conditions in the Styrian hills allowed Jak Crawford to benefit from uninterrupted track time. This gave him the opportunity to carry out a variety of short and long rolling sessions to better understand the subtleties of a Formula 1 car and the tires used, which are different from those in F2.
This test is a key step in the young drivers development program. Indeed, it is the first F1 test for this young driver of only 19 years old. Crawford, reserve driver for Aston Martin, will continue to support the team during races throughout the season. In addition to his presence on the circuits, he also supports Aston Martin’s regular drivers by frequently conducting simulator sessions at the AMR Technology Campus.
Jak Crawford, enthusiastic, expressed his gratitude to the team: A big thank you to everyone at Aston Martin who contributed to making this possible and for their support during the test. My first day in an F1 car was a fantastic experience and I enjoyed every lap. It was a clean and smooth day for us, without any issues, and we completed everything we wanted to do. My main goal was to catch up and get used to the car’s systems. It was a learning process for me, and in the end, it was nothing like what I had driven before, especially in the high-speed sections. I believe I adapted well and I am excited for the next time.
The F1 car used in testing was the AMR22, a single-seater from at least two seasons, as required by the regulations in F1 for private tests.
Robert Sattler, director of the Evolution program at Aston Martin, also shared his impressions: “It’s always a special moment to see a young driver complete his first laps in a Formula 1 car. After a full day of running, Jak has gained valuable experience that he can use in his other program tests. We know that transitioning from the driving style of F2 to F1 is not easy, but Jak quickly adapted to the car and worked well with the team to improve throughout the day.”
Formerly a Red Bull program driver, Jak Crawford joined the Aston Martin program this year, at the same time as he joined DAMS in Formula 2. He will be driving for the team during the sixth round of the season in Barcelona from June 21 to 23, 2024.
