With Cadillac’s anticipated entry in the F1 2026 grid, Jak Crawford could seize a unique opportunity to make the final step up.
Jak Crawford shares key to attracting F1 teams’ attention for the future
Experience makes a better driver, especially the one acquired in feeder series. Jak Crawford knows it well. In fact, due to this trait in his curriculum and his skills, he has been confirmed to stay in DAMS for the 2025 season.
However, it is now an established fact that talent alone is not enough to reach Formula 1. A series of positive events must align to advance one’s career.
Could it be the case for the American driver with the admission of General Motors/Cadillac in F1 in 2026? Nevertheless, many factors need to be taken into account.
Jak Crawford’s rise in Formula 2
2024 started with the announcement of Crawford’s entry into the Aston Martin F1 Driver Development Programme.
The 2024 season has now reached its final rounds and, as everyone knows, Motorsport is a world that moves fast. So, even before the drivers hit the track in Bahrain, some names from next year’s F2 grid have already been announced.
Among them is Jak Crawford who is competing in his second year of Formula 2, having debuted last year with Hitech. With the English team, the results struggled to arrive. He finished the season in 13th place with only one victory and four podiums.
However, in this series, just a small detail can make a huge difference. It can allow a driver to go from struggling in the past to fighting for the top 5 in the standings the following year. This happened to the American who seems to have benefited from a change in both team and car this season.
The constancy shown by Jak throughout the year often passed in second place due to the numerous changes of leadership within the series. The improvement was the result of a maturation that had already begun the previous year.
GM/Cadillac close to the F1 grid
Next year Formula 1 will welcome four new drivers from Formula 2, three of whom are currently competing in the championship. This is an impressive number, considering that last year there were no changes on the grid for the first time in F1 history.
Fortunately, several young people have been noticed for their talent. In 2025 fresh faces will take the place of those behind the steering wheels.
Moreover, the surprises for the future do not end here. Through a press release, F1 recently announced the start of negotiations with General Motors/Cadillac to join the grid as the eleventh team in 2026.
According to the rumours in the paddock, the two sides are close to an official agreement and by 2026 we could have two new members on the grid.
The two teams are Audi, which will take over from Sauber, and General Motors/Cadillac, with the support of Andretti.
READ MORE: Does Winning the F2 Title Still Matter for an F1 Future?
A new chance to get to Formula 1?
Naturally, fans of the sport have wondered about who could fill the two seats of the American team. While it’s impossible to provide a definitive answer at this stage, various possibilities have emerged.
One is that GM/Cadillac could consider one or two American drivers.
The names of the American drivers in the different series of motorsport are many but only one stands out in F1’s feeder series. Jak Crawford who proudly wears a helmet the colours of the star and stripes.
However, it is not enough to have an American passport to be able to get one of the two places in GM/Cadillac. The goal must remain the same: to demonstrate your own value and abilities on track.
Crawford and his fellow competitors know that to attract attention from Formula 1 teams, they need to fight for top positions and secure important spots on the final rankings. Here is the opinion of the DAMS driver:
“I’ll be doing another year of Formula 2 next year, which will probably be my final year to win the championship. After that who knows, I’m looking forward to the last races to maximize and to next year to win the championship. An F2 champion or anyone who finishes at the front will likely have some attention to Formula 1 team. Anything is possibile for the future.” – Crawford to LWOS.
The potential arrival of the American team could present a significant opportunity for Crawford to break into Formula 1. Alternatively, as a member of Aston Martin‘s driver program and their reserve driver, he might also take the step up through the English team.
In any case, Crawford understands that to reach his goal, he must demonstrate consistency and speed. Two essential qualities of a successful driver.
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