F1 – Aston Martin excludes Alonso from FP1 at Spa: a simple obligation… or a more worrying sign?

Fernando Alonso will not participate in the first free practice session of the Belgian Grand Prix. Officially, Aston Martin is simply complying with the regulations requiring track time for young drivers. However, the timing of this decision raises questions, given that the two-time world champion's season has fallen far short of expectations and his future remains uncertain.

Alonso hands over the wheel to Crawford: a mere formality that comes at the worst possible time?

At Spa-Francorchamps, it's Jack Crawford who will take the wheel of the AMR26 during FP1. The American reserve driver, runner-up in Formula 2 in 2025, thus continues his learning before handing the single-seater back to Fernando Alonso for the second session of the day. A decision that meets the obligations of the FIA, but which comes at a particularly sensitive time for Aston Martin.

The 2026 season is indeed far from the ambitions declared by the British team. Between performance issues, reliability problems, and results below expectations, Alonso is struggling to make a difference. Yet, Aston Martin assures that it will continue to prepare for the future without losing sight of its immediate objectives.

Jack Crawford This also highlights the importance of this opportunity.

“I am very grateful to Aston Martin for giving me another opportunity to drive the car during a Grand Prix weekend,” the young American said. He knows that every kilometer covered can count towards the rest of his career.

"My goal will be to help the team gather as much information as possible in order to best prepare for the rest of the weekend for Fernando and Lance.", he added.

From the team's perspective, the official line remains. The track operations director, mike krack, reminds us that this session is part of the young pilot development program.

"Jak has already demonstrated his speed and professionalism in his previous outings with the team," he explains, before adding: "These sessions are important for continuing his development while providing useful data to the team."

However, it's difficult to ignore the context. The contract of Fernando Alonso The contract expires at the end of the season and no extension has yet been officially announced. Meanwhile, Aston Martin is already preparing for the coming years with the arrival of...Adrian Newey and numerous technological developments. See Crawford Therefore, gaining experience behind the wheel of the AMR26 can only fuel speculation.

Alonso He will indeed be back in his seat from FP2 onwards, and there's no indication that his position is in immediate danger. But in a team undergoing a complete rebuild, where every decision is scrutinized, this absence during FP1 undoubtedly goes beyond mere regulatory compliance. If Aston Martin While he speaks of a normal step in the development of his reserve driver, the paddock is likely to see it as a further clue about the behind-the-scenes discussions concerning the future of the two-time world champion.