Crawford takes Saudi Arabia Feature Pole and Podium

Texan in the F2 points with second place finish after VSC and alternate strategy keep him from top step

JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia (20 April 2025) – American Formula 1 hopeful Jak Crawford scored his first points of the FIA Formula 2 Championship season, taking second in the Feature Race at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit on Sunday.

After scoring the second pole position of his F2 career, the DAMS Lucas Oil driver pulled away at the start and led the first seven laps before his mandatory pit stop. The American looked on track to score another F2 victory, but came home second after a competitor utilized an alternate strategy with a fresher set of super-softs in the closing laps to claim the win.

“It was a pretty good weekend overall,” he said. “It was good just to get some points on the board, and we had pretty good speed, so we’re happy with the job we’ve done.

“But finishing second was tough, to be honest,” Crawford said. “It was always going to be a close race, especially at this track where there is no tire deg[redation]. It was a really tough race pushing that hard. I was going quicker and quicker, but unfortunately, the gap wasn’t big enough.”

Crawford was quick in practice on the world’s fastest street circuit, holding the second quickest lap for most of the opening 30-minute practice session.

Qualifying saw him 14th on his opening set of super-soft tires. A red flag spoiled his potential fast lap in the closing minutes – meaning he would only have one final lap on his new tires Running 18th entering his final lap moments before the checkered flag, he delivered at the key moment as he took pole with a lap of 1:43.579-seconds.

“I think that was the greatest lap I’ve ever done in my life,” he told his team after scoring his first pole since Zandvoort in 2023. “After struggling on the first run, we got it fixed for the second run. Then we had a red flag on my first push laps, so I just did my best to try to bring home a top 10. Then everything came together with the changes we made between the two runs. My last lap was pretty good, and when I crossed the finish line, I couldn’t believe my eyes with the time I saw. It came together quite perfectly at the end. I was pretty happy with that, my first pole with DAMS, as well.”

With the inverse grid for Saturday’s 20-lap Sprint Race, Crawford started 10th and raced his way forward, moving up to fight for sixth with five laps to go. But as he went for sixth, Crawford was forced onto the dirty line on entry as contact sent him spinning out of the race.

“It was a pretty good race, and we were really fast,” he said. “It was unfortunate to lose some potential points, but it was a good race up until then.”

Crawford got off quick from lights-out in Sunday’s Feature Race, taking the lead and pulling away from DRS. Following his pit stop, he quickly regained the advantage from his rivals who also started the race on super-soft tires.  But a late pit stop from one racer meant that Crawford was fighting against much fresher tires as he came home second at the checkers.

“I pushed my heart out non-stop,” Crawford told his team following the race. “It was a nail-biter. I lost a bit of time after the pit stop, and that didn’t help, so I knew it was going to be close at the end. I drove basically 20 quali laps in a row and left nothing on the table, so on my side, I am happy. Of course, I’m just wishing we would have a little bit more to keep the lead one more lap. There was not much I could have done better.”

The finish saw Crawford move to eighth in the standings as he looks to build on the points with the next series of outings.

“We’re happy to get on the board with some points,” he said. “Still a long season, with three good tracks coming up for me.”

Next up is the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Imola on May 17-18. Last year, Crawford battled from a last-row start to finish seventh in the Feature Race.

“I’m excited for Imola,” he said. “Last year I didn’t get to show what I had in qualifying due to an engine issue, and came from last to seventh. Hopefully, I’ll qualify at the front and again fight for a win on Sunday.”

Crawford will be busy between races, with a Formula E event as reserve driver for Andretti in Monaco and an F1 test at Zandvoort, in addition to many days on the simulator.