Fernando Alonso will be skipping his media duties at the Japanese Grand Prix after it was confirmed that he would be replaced in the cockpit for FP1. The veteran Spaniard has endured a tough start to the season with Aston Martin, who are nowhere near where they want to be after a challenging winter break. Severe vibrations from the Honda power unit have sparked safety concerns, with much of the movement being transmitted into the fingers of their drivers.

The historic British team have failed to score a single point so far in 2026 and that barren run looks set to continue at Suzuka this weekend. Alonso is their biggest hope when it comes to securing a top-10 finish, but he'll be on the back foot from the very start. That is because he is being replaced in FP1 by Jak Crawford, who took part in two practice sessions last season.

Speaking on the team website, Crawford said: "I'm really excited to get behind the wheel and drive for the team at Suzuka. It's such a historic yet demanding circuit, and I can't wait to apply what I've learned in the simulator to real track conditions.

"A big thank you to the team for giving me this opportunity. As with my previous FP1 sessions, I'm looking forward to making the most of it and learning as much as I can."

Now, it has emerged that Alonso will also be skipping his usual media duties on Thursday, with Aston Martin confirming the news on social media.

In a statement, they said: "Fernando is arriving slightly later this weekend for personal family reasons and won't be attending media day at the Japanese Grand Prix. All is well and he will be at the track in time for Friday."

Alonso retired from the Chinese Grand Prix earlier this month because the vibrations from the engine were so severe that he was losing the feeling in his hands and feet.

Speaking after his retirement in Shanghai, Alonso said: "On lap 20 to 35 I was struggling a bit to feel my hands and my feet. We were one lap behind, we were last, and there was probably no point to keep going."

Lance Stroll, meanwhile, was quick to dismiss his chances of scoring points at the Japanese Grand Prix, saying: "Unless they can find some magic in the next 10 days, pray. Pray for me."

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