Felipe Drugovich May Replace Lance Stroll at Canadian GP
Felipe Drugovich has expressed his willingness to step in for the injured Lance Stroll at the Canadian Grand Prix, prioritizing his Formula 1 career over commitments to the Le Mans 24 Hours with Cadillac. Stroll, who was sidelined due to pain from a wrist injury sustained in a cycling accident during pre-season training, withdrew from the Spanish Grand Prix after qualifying 14th.
Aston Martin was unable to field a replacement driver on race day due to F1 regulations, leaving Fernando Alonso as the sole competitor. Alonso ultimately finished ninth, benefiting from a late-race penalty assessed to Max Verstappen.
As Stroll’s recovery timeline remains uncertain following a procedure to address his wrist injury, he may not be fit for his home round, scheduled for June 13-15. In contrast, Drugovich was originally slated to race in the Le Mans 24 Hours during the same weekend, alongside Jack Aitken and Frederik Vesti in the #311 Hypercar entry.
In remarks to Band reporter Thiago Fagnani, Drugovich stated, "My priority has always been Formula 1." He emphasized the need to support Stroll while navigating his own commitments. Aston Martin’s other reserve driver, Stoffel Vandoorne, faces a similar overlap, competing in the Hypercar class with Peugeot.
Additionally, the team may consider relying on their engine partner Mercedes for a substitute; Valtteri Bottas is available and could fill the seat for the Canadian GP. Aston Martin also has Jak Crawford in their development program, but he currently lacks the necessary FIA superlicence to participate in F1.
The upcoming Canadian GP remains pivotal for Aston Martin as they assess Stroll’s readiness to return to the grid.
