In a surprising turn of events, Aston Martin announced that Lance Stroll would not be participating in Sunday’s Spanish Grand Prix. Stroll had qualified 14th, trailing behind his teammate Fernando Alonso, a two-time World Champion, by more than half a second.
The Canadian driver’s absence from the race is due to persisting pain in his hand and wrist, stemming from a previous procedure. Aston Martin revealed that Stroll will undergo another procedure to address these issues, which are linked to injuries from a bike accident back in 2023. This mishap had already caused him to miss that year’s pre-season testing in Bahrain.
According to Aston Martin, over the past six weeks, Stroll has struggled with discomfort in his hand and wrist, related to the earlier procedure. Consequently, his medical team has advised against racing in the Spanish GP, planning a corrective procedure for his injuries while prioritizing his recovery.
With Stroll out, Aston Martin will only have one driver, Alonso, competing, starting from 10th place on the grid. It’s uncertain if Stroll will be ready for the upcoming race in Montreal on June 15, leaving the team with potential logistical challenges.
Aston Martin has a couple of backup options, including Felipe Drugovich and Stoffel Vandoorne. Drugovich has been a reserve since finishing his title-winning F2 season in 2022 and had previously stepped in for Stroll during pre-season testing in 2023. Meanwhile, Vandoorne, who gathered points participating in 42 races with McLaren, also holds accolades in the Formula E series. However, both are engaged in the Le Mans 24 Hours race, which coincides with the Canadian GP weekend, complicating their availability.
Another potential candidate is Jak Crawford, a 20-year-old American and part of the team’s development roster. He’s currently racing in the Formula 2 Championships with noticeable success. Since F2 doesn’t run in Canada, Crawford could step in if Stroll remains unfit. Yet, Crawford would require a Super Licence exemption due to not meeting the points criteria, an obstacle Aston Martin might need to navigate.
There is also the remote possibility of calling on Mercedes’ reserve driver Valtteri Bottas. Though no formal arrangement exists, Mercedes historically shares reserve drivers with customer teams. Bottas has prior experience testing on the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya with McLaren, adding potential depth to the pool of options for Aston Martin.
The sudden withdrawal of Lance Stroll from the Spanish Grand Prix complicates Aston Martin’s immediate racing strategy. With Alonso as the sole contender for the team, Aston Martin faces the task of resolving its roster for the upcoming Canadian GP. The situation highlights the unpredictable nature of Formula 1, where teams must swiftly adapt to unforeseen changes.
