Components 1 has had a shaky relationship with American drivers. Regardless of Liberty Media’s in depth efforts to seize the $69 billion US sports activities market, the traditionally Euro-centric sport hasn’t produced a aggressive American driver this century. Jak Crawford, the very best ranked American within the pipeline to F1, hopes he can change that.
The 19-year-old, raised on the go-kart tracks of Texas, has secured two wins and 10 podiums all through his Components 2 profession, presently racing for DAMS Lucas Oil. “It’s loopy to assume I’m the closest American to F1,” Crawford informed Motorsport.
“Individuals wish to see a driver who’s profitable and doing rather well for his or her nation, in order that’s my aim. I’ve a fantastic alternative to turn into the American driver [if] I’m capable of do it.”
Crawford is presently fifth place within the F2 standings — forward of Kimi Antonelli and Ollie Bearman who’re certain for F1 seats with Mercedes and Haas, respectively, subsequent season. “Being forward of them within the championship provides me confidence and reassurance that I might try this too if I get the prospect,” he mentioned. Crawford had additionally surpassed Argentina’s Franco Colapinto in F2 standings, who was referred to as as much as F1 by Williams over the summer season. “I’m trying ahead to getting that probability sooner or later to point out what I can do,” he added confidently.
There’s a myriad of things which have led to the 46-year drought since an American final stood on the highest step of an F1 podium (Mario Andretti claimed victory on the 1978 Dutch Grand Prix). Above all, the ladder to F1 is nearly unattainable to climb with out relocating to Europe as an adolescent.
Crawford, for his half, moved to England by himself at 14 to observe the well-worn European developmental path. “It was eye-opening for certain. You do not notice how a lot you do not know till you are asking your mother find out how to work the dishwasher,” the softly-spoken Texan mentioned with amusing. Signing a five-year take care of the Purple Bull Driver Academy in 2019, he secured a fully-financed seat in Components 4. Earlier than that, his karting profession was funded by his dad, Tim, who thought the teen was destined for a profession in NASCAR. That was till Helmut Marko, godfather of the illustrious junior program, supplied Crawford a life-changing contract.
“It was nice at first. The academy gave me a fantastic path and helped me chase my goals, particularly once I began in F4,” he mirrored. Nonetheless, the connection “fizzled out” over time, a lot of which had been fraught by the COVID-19 pandemic and fierce competitors throughout the academy.
Graduates of the notoriously cut-throat program, together with Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo, have spoken concerning the pressures positioned on them by Marko. Crawford mentioned he was given just one directive by the famed expertise spotter: “win the championship.”
“I realised there was no path for me right into a race seat [with Red Bull],” Crawford defined. “There have been too many guys – quite a lot of actually good ones – so I figured it was finest that I left.” He went on to hitch the Aston Martin Growth Program, the place he’s eyeing a 2025 reserve function with the group and, if all goes to plan, a 2026 race seat.
Crawford has already began studying from veterans of the game inside Aston Martin. “I have been capable of be taught a lot from Fernando [Alonso], primarily off-track, simply listening to him in engineering conferences,” he mentioned of the two-time World Champion. “It’s nice to listen to what he and Lance [Stroll] say concerning the automobile and the language they use as a result of I’m capable of apply that to my work with my [F2] group.”
Jak Crawford, Growth Driver, Aston Martin F1 Group
Photograph by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Photographs
F1’s explosion in recognition within the early 2020s has shone a highlight on the younger drivers within the sport’s growth collection, who had been as soon as largely unknown exterior of hardcore motorsport circles.
“It is grown massively, particularly with individuals my age,” Crawford mentioned, referencing the considerably youthful demographic who will not be solely tuning into races, but in addition participating with content material on social media. “As I’ve gotten nearer to the highest, I’ve began getting extra followers and likes,” he went on, noting his 57,000-strong Instagram following has allowed him to develop his private model.
He’s additionally acutely conscious that his nation is keen to see certainly one of their very own succeed on the pinnacle of racing. Nonetheless, Liberty Media’s fervent pursuit of American fandom [read: American dollars] doesn’t imply Individuals have been totally embraced throughout the paddock simply but. Michael Andretti’s bid to hitch the grid was rejected by the game’s administration arm earlier this yr, sparking an antitrust investigation by the U.S. Division of Justice. In the meantime, Florida native Logan Sargeant was unceremoniously dumped by Williams mid-season, bringing the American’s F1 profession to an abrupt finish.
With the game booming, there has by no means been a stronger monetary incentive to put money into an American driver. Williams took that gamble with Sargeant, however inconsistent outcomes and a spate of pricey crashes could have left groups cautious about hiring an American with out robust performances to again up their marketability.
Crawford is targeted on proving {that a} U.S. driver can thrive within the sport, although the trail to success stays steep. His subsequent step is a postseason check in Abu Dhabi, the place he’ll get behind the wheel of the AMR24. “It is a fantastic alternative,” he mentioned. “I’ve pushed the 2022 automobile so I already know the entire buttons, which is essentially the most tough half.” It’s clear Crawford could possibly be on the point of a breakthrough, and may the celebrities proceed aligning, American followers could have a brand new countryman to cheer for.
