Lance Stroll's Rival Fernando Alonso Replaced at Belgian Grand Prix

Fernando Alonso will not be taking part in the first practice session at the Belgian Grand Prix, with reserve driver Jak Crawford set to take his place.

Aston Martin have announced that two-time F1 world champion Fernando Alonso will not be participating in FP1 at the Belgian Grand Prix. This decision comes as the team prepares to introduce upgrades to their car in the coming weeks, with Alonso's future at the team hanging in the balance.

Alonso has been struggling to make a significant impact for Aston Martin this season, with the team's reliability and performance issues hindering their progress. This has led to Lance Stroll, Alonso's teammate, outqualifying him on two occasions recently. The 44-year-old's current contract is set to expire at the end of the season, and it remains to be seen whether he will sign a new deal with the team.

Crawford, who finished runner-up in the F2 championship last year, will take the reins in the AMR26 for the first practice session. This move is designed to help the team meet their rookie driver quota, with F1 rules requiring teams to run rookies at least twice per season in each of their cars. Crawford has already had experience in the AMR26, having participated in testing events this season and racing Aston Martin's 2025 car at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.

The American driver will have the unenviable task of helping to get the troublesome AMR26 into the right performance window for the rest of the weekend. With at least one seat at the team potentially open come the end of the season, Crawford will be looking to impress Aston Martin and secure his place in the team for the future.

The decision to replace Alonso with Crawford for FP1 has significant implications for Lance Stroll, who has been struggling alongside his teammate this season. As the team prepares to introduce upgrades to their car, it remains to be seen whether Alonso will be able to turn his form around and secure his place at the team.

The Belgian Grand Prix is set to take place on 18-20 August, with Crawford taking the reins in the AMR26 for the first practice session on Friday.