Fernando Alonso will not participate in the Free Practice 1 session at Formula 1’s Japanese Grand Prix, as he will be giving his Aston Martin AMR26 to third driver Jak Crawford. In line with F1’s regulations, teams are required to field a rookie driver in FP1 sessions four times a season, with only two grand prix starts allowed. Racing Bulls with newcomer Arvid Lindblad and Aston Martin with Crawford are the first teams to fulfill this requirement this year. Crawford expressed his excitement to drive at Suzuka and thanked the team for the opportunity. Last year’s F2 runner-up is eager to make the most of his FP1 sessions to learn and progress towards achieving his F1 dream. Chief trackside officer Mike Krack highlighted the importance of providing young talent like Crawford with valuable track experience. The upcoming Japanese Grand Prix poses a challenge for Aston Martin due to issues with their new powertrain’s reliability, hindering the AMR26 from completing a full race distance. Alonso remains hopeful for Suzuka but acknowledges the need for Honda to address engine vibrations and battery concerns. The team’s ongoing commitment to young talent development underscores their choice of Crawford for FP1 sessions, allowing him to gather data and progress.
Fernando Alonso to Skip Japanese GP FP1: What’s Behind the Decision?
