Overview
- Aston Martin said Alonso will skip Thursday’s official media day in Suzuka and rejoin the program on Friday for second practice.
- Reserve driver Jak Crawford will drive the AMR26 in first practice, the one-hour FP1 session that opens the weekend’s track running.
- The team cited personal reasons linked to the imminent birth of Alonso’s first child with journalist Melissa Jimenez, who has three children from a prior relationship.
- Aston Martin’s recent technical picture remains mixed, with Honda improving battery reliability after China but a persistent vibration problem still affecting the car.
- The core reporting centers on the team’s stated plan for Alonso to start in FP2, while tabloid-style coverage floats that the baby may already have arrived without confirmation from the couple.