Photo: Aston Martin F1
Formula 2 title rivals Jak Crawford and Luke Browning will be on double duty during the season finale at Yas Marina Circuit, as both will drive in Formula 1.
Between F2 practice and qualifying on the Friday of that weekend, they will contest the first free practice session of F1’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and there will only be a half-hour gap between the end of that and the start of F2’s qualifying session.
Browning will drive for Williams, and it will be his fourth F1 practice call-up since becoming a member of the Williams Racing Driver Academy in 2023. He appeared in FP1 at the 2024 Abu Dhabi GP, and at the Bahrain and Mexico City grands prix this year.
F1’s post-season young driver test will also be in Abu Dhabi, and Browning will be at the wheel again with Williams.
“It’s going to be an unforgettable weekend in Abu Dhabi fighting for the F2 title while getting back behind the wheel of the FW47, and it’s a challenge I’m going to relish,” said the 23-year-old.
“The young driver test will give me a final opportunity to help the team prepare for 2026 and I’m looking forward to being part of a F1 weekend for the last time this season. Thank you to everyone at the Driver Academy and Williams for the trust once again.”
Crawford will drive in practice and testing at Yas Marina Circuit for Aston Martin, ahead of becoming the team’s third driver (the reserve driver role in all but name) next year.
He has been one of its junior drivers since early 2024, and made his F1 practice debut at last month’s 2025 Mexico City GP.
Bolstered by private tests in the team’s older cars, Aston Martin claims Crawford has already driven 1,304 miles in F1 machinery and is already developing its 2026 car through simulator work.
“I’m thrilled to get back behind the wheel of the AMR25 for the second time this season,” the 25-year-old said of his Abu Dhabi call-up.
“I’ve spent a lot of time in the simulator at the AMR Technology Campus this year, and being able to translate that work onto the track is incredibly rewarding. Mexico was a huge learning experience for me and I’m looking forward to continuing that development in both the FP1 session and the young driver test.”
Aston Martin team principal Andy Cowell added: “It’s fantastic to see Jak back in the car so soon after Mexico. Building mileage in the car and maintaining momentum is exactly what we aim for in developing our young drivers. This session in Abu Dhabi will be an important step as he prepares for his new role as third driver next year, and we’re excited to continue supporting his growth.”
There are two rounds left of the F2 season, with Losail next up on November 28-30, and Crawford and Browning sit second and third in the standings. They are 19 and 27 points off championship leader Leonardo Fornaroli respectively.