Alonso to miss Japanese GP media day for personal reasons

Fernando Alonso will miss the Thursday media day at the Japanese Grand Prix due to personal family reasons, with Aston Martin confirming his delayed arrival. The team has stated there are "no concerns" and expects the two-time world champion to be at the circuit from Friday, with reserve driver Jack Crawford stepping in for the first practice session.

Why it matters:

The absence of a star driver and team leader like Alonso, even for just the media day, disrupts the usual rhythm of a race weekend. It places additional immediate responsibility on teammate Lance Stroll and the team's communications staff, while also raising questions—however briefly—about driver availability at a critical point in Aston Martin's challenging season.

The details:

• Aston Martin announced the Spaniard's delayed arrival at Suzuka, confirming he will not participate in the official Thursday media activities.
• The team attributed the absence to "personal family reasons" and stressed that the situation is fine, expecting Alonso to be present for all on-track sessions from Friday's second practice (FP2).
• Reserve driver duty: With Alonso unavailable for FP1, the team's official reserve driver, Jack Crawford, will take his seat alongside Lance Stroll for the opening 60-minute session. This fulfills a team's obligation to run a rookie driver in two FP1 sessions per season.
• Broader context: The news comes amid public commentary from former Ferrari engineer Jock Clear, who recently suggested that while Alonso is immensely talented, he may not be the ideal driver to lead a team through a prolonged rebuilding phase, hinting at a potential mismatch for Aston Martin's current situation.

What's next:

All eyes will be on Alonso's arrival and his integration back into the weekend routine from FP2 onwards. His performance and feedback will be crucial for an Aston Martin team that has yet to score a point in the 2026 season, as they seek to understand and improve their uncompetitive car. Crawford's performance in FP1 will also be a minor subplot, offering the young American another valuable opportunity in a current F1 car.