Jak Crawford reflects on F2 exit and his F1-focused future with Aston Martin

Jak Crawford has closed the chapter on his Formula 2 career, finishing as the 2025 runner-up, and is now fully focused on his role as Aston Martin's third driver with the ultimate goal of securing a Formula 1 race seat. The American driver, who turned down a Formula E opportunity to pursue his F1 dream, believes his three years in the competitive feeder series have prepared him for the next step.

Why it matters:

Crawford's career trajectory highlights the critical juncture young drivers face after F2. Choosing to decline a confirmed Formula E seat to pursue an uncertain F1 path demonstrates his commitment and belief in his readiness for the pinnacle of motorsport. His development into a four-time race winner in his final F2 season, coupled with his reserve role at a works F1 team, positions him as a serious contender for a future race seat.

The details:

• Crawford confirmed 2025 was his final F2 season, finishing second in the championship with four wins and eight podiums after a points-less start to the year.
• He reflected on the season's challenges, noting the difficulty of beating a consistently strong rival like champion Leonardo Fornaroli and the team's occasional struggles with tyre management and car setup.
• Career Development: Crawford emphasized the value of his three F2 seasons, stating he entered the category "very raw" and driving on instinct after F3. He credits his time with Hitech and DAMS with deepening his technical understanding and racecraft.
• Future Focus: He explicitly turned down a Formula E opportunity, stating his current focus is solely on F1. While he finds Formula E interesting and a potential future option, it is not his immediate goal.
• F1 Integration: As Aston Martin's third driver, Crawford has completed multiple runs in the AMR25, even topping the post-season test in Abu Dhabi with a lap time of 1:23.766. He discussed adapting between cars, emphasizing the need to drive to specific reference points rather than pure instinct when switching between an F2 and F1 machine.

What's next:

Crawford's immediate future lies within the Aston Martin setup, where he will continue his reserve and development driver duties. His strong post-season testing performance and dedicated, F1-only mindset will keep him in the conversation for any potential seat openings on the grid, as he waits for his chance to transition from a promising talent to a Grand Prix driver.