Aston Martin has quietly reinforced the foundations beneath its Formula 1 race team, confirming that Stoffel Vandoorne and Jak Crawford will continue their collaboration with the Silverstone-based outfit this year.
While the headlines in Formula 1 naturally gravitate toward race drivers and championship ambitions, Aston Martin’s announcement underlines the importance of continuity behind the scenes – particularly as the team enters a new era marked by F1’s major regulatory changes.
Vandoorne’s extension comes as little surprise. The Belgian has been a familiar figure within Aston Martin’s structure for several seasons, serving as reserve and sim driver and a trusted set of hands whenever the team has needed experience and stability.
A former McLaren race driver, Vandoorne last climbed into Aston Martin machinery during the post-season test in Abu Dhabi at the end of 2025, adding another data point to a relationship built on reliability and technical feedback.
Alongside his Formula 1 duties, Vandoorne continues to juggle a parallel role in Formula E as a reserve driver for Jaguar – a dual commitment that reflects his adaptability across disciplines and his value as a development-focused driver.
Should Aston Martin face disruption during the season, Vandoorne will again be on standby to step in if either Fernando Alonso or Lance Stroll is unable to race.
However, the team has not clarified how responsibilities would be divided between Vandoorne and Crawford in such a scenario, leaving open the question of who would be first in line should a replacement be required.
Crawford, meanwhile, continues his upward trajectory within the Aston Martin set-up. The American joined the team in 2024 after graduating from the Red Bull junior programme and will retain his role as third driver this season.
Still early in his Formula 1 journey, Crawford has already been given valuable exposure to race-weekend operations.
He completed two free practice appearances with Aston Martin during the 2025 campaign before rounding out the year at the young drivers’ test, where teams traditionally evaluate future prospects under more representative conditions.
Those outings offered Crawford a chance to showcase his progress while contributing to the team’s broader development programme.
In a sport where preparation often proves as decisive as performance, Aston Martin’s decision to lock in both Vandoorne and Crawford ensures the team enters the season with depth, continuity and options – even if, for now, the precise pecking order behind its two race drivers remains unanswered.
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