Aston Martin have confirmed that two-time Formula 1 world champion Fernando Alonso will step aside during the opening practice session of next weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix, allowing reserve driver Jak Crawford to take the wheel as the team fulfills its mandatory rookie driver requirement.
The decision means Alonso will miss the first practice session at Spa-Francorchamps, although the Spaniard is expected to return to the cockpit for the remainder of the race weekend, including FP2, qualifying, and Sunday’s Belgian Grand Prix.
The temporary driver change comes during a difficult campaign for Alonso. The 44-year-old has endured one of the toughest seasons of his Formula 1 career, with Aston Martin struggling to consistently challenge the front-running teams. Reliability concerns and a lack of outright pace have severely limited the team’s progress throughout the opening nine rounds of the 2026 championship.
As a result, Alonso has managed to score just a single championship point so far this season, a disappointing return for a driver renowned for extracting the maximum from any machinery. Aston Martin’s inability to deliver a competitive package has left both drivers fighting in the midfield, often unable to challenge for meaningful points.
Adding to Alonso’s frustrations, team-mate Lance Stroll has recently enjoyed improved qualifying performances. The Canadian has outqualified Alonso twice in recent race weekends, marking a notable shift after Alonso comfortably held the upper hand throughout the entire 2025 season. Those recent results have highlighted the increasingly competitive battle within the Aston Martin garage.
Despite the difficult season, Aston Martin remain hopeful that a series of planned upgrades will improve the AMR26 over the coming races. The Silverstone-based outfit is expected to introduce significant developments in the near future as it looks to climb the constructors’ standings and provide Alonso and Stroll with a more competitive car.
The upcoming races are also expected to play an important role in Alonso’s future. His current contract expires at the end of the 2026 season, and speculation continues over whether the veteran will extend his stay with Aston Martin or decide to bring his legendary Formula 1 career to a close. Improved performance in the second half of the season could influence both the team’s plans and Alonso’s final decision.
For Jak Crawford, the Belgian Grand Prix FP1 outing represents another valuable opportunity to showcase his abilities. The highly rated American has been part of Aston Martin’s driver development programme and has impressed with his performances in junior categories. Taking part in an official Formula 1 practice session will provide Crawford with crucial experience while also helping the team gather valuable data ahead of the remainder of the weekend.
Although Alonso will briefly hand over driving duties, the change is purely procedural and forms part of Formula 1’s regulations requiring teams to provide opportunities for rookie drivers during practice sessions. Once FP1 concludes, the experienced Spaniard is expected to resume driving responsibilities as Aston Martin aims to make the most of its Belgian Grand Prix weekend and begin building momentum ahead of the introduction of its anticipated upgrades.
