The Aston Martin Aramco Formula 1® team brought the excitement of motorsport to Houston with a demonstration run of the AMR22 at the Ion. Ahead of the 2024 U.S. Grand Prix in Austin, attendees got an up-close look at the racecar and met 19-year-old driver, Jak Crawford.

The event included interactive activities and a panel discussion here at the Ion on the culture of innovation fostered by the partnership with Aramco, an Ion founding partner. Bringing together the Houston innovation community, we celebrated the launch of the Aston Martin Aramco F1 Generation 3 campaign, which aims to leverage cutting-edge technologies for real-world impact and inspire the next generation. Their teams showcased how to drive progress in global mobility through technical advancements on-track, and prepare the next generation of STEM leaders to tackle these challenges for years to come

Ahead of the AMR22 drive in the Ion District, attendees gathered on the Ion Forum Stairs to hear from leaders at Aramco during a panel discussion. Jak Crawford, who grew up in Houston, shared about his personal experiences on the track. Followed by a innovation discussion with Rania Biltagi – Aramco, Global Head of Aramco Partnership and Sponsorship; Jim Sledzik – Aramco Ventures, Managing Director; Claudio Santoni – Aston Martin Performance Technologies, Engineering Director. The discussion was moderated by Paul Cherukuri – Chief Innovation Officer, Rice University.

Houston Mayor Whitmire highlighted the significance of the day, emphasizing that, “Institutions like Rice University and the Ion make Houston great. This is really a great day for Houston and all of the attendees here.” It is an honor to work with these phenomenal innovators and partners who are the heartbeat of the Ion District.

The culminating final demo run in the Ion District was preceded by an exciting day driving around Houston, including when Aramco Americas and Motiva employees witnessed this experience as the car drove by Aramco Americas headquarters in downtown.

As homebase for the activities, the AMF22 wearing this demo run special Generation 3 livery including inspirational quotes from Rice University students, was assembled in the Ion garage.

As corporate leaders, entrepreneurs, innovators and students come together in the Ion, Houston continues to become a home base for technological breakthroughs that impact industries worldwide.