P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Aston Martin to swap out BOTH drivers at Abu Dhabi GP
The Aston Martin F1 team has confirmed that both of their regular drivers will be replaced by Jak Crawford and Cian Shields for FP1 at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Crawford will be stepping into an official third driver role with the team starting in 2026, while Shields will be making his F1 debut during the session.
Shields, who has been racing in F2 this year with AIX Racing, expressed his gratitude for the opportunity, while Aston Martin’s chief engineer praised his professionalism and development throughout the year.
The team is aiming to gain enough points at the season-ending Abu Dhabi GP to overcome Racing Bulls in the constructors’ championship standings and end the season on a positive note.
