Lance Stroll Cleared to Race at Canadian Grand Prix Following Injury Recovery
Aston Martin Formula 1 driver Lance Stroll will make a return to the AMR25 for the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal this weekend, following a successful procedure to address a lingering hand injury.
Stroll withdrew from the Spanish Grand Prix after qualifying when pain in his right hand intensified, prompting medical evaluation. He underwent surgery on the previously fractured wrist, injured in a cycling accident two years ago, and recently tested an older generation F1 car at Paul Ricard to assess his readiness. Aston Martin confirmed his fitness for the upcoming race, stating, "Lance is feeling fit and healthy, and is excited to compete in front of his home crowd."
In a statement, Stroll expressed enthusiasm for his return: "I was always going to fight hard to be ready to race in front of the Montreal crowd… I put some laps in at Paul Ricard this week to prepare."
Head of trackside engineering Mike Krack clarified that Stroll’s withdrawal from Spain was not related to emotional distress during qualifying, as suggested by rumors. "This has been a progressive issue since the beginning of the year," Krack noted. He emphasized that drivers often endure more pain than they admit to continue racing.
Aston Martin’s reserve driver Felipe Drugovich had been on standby to replace Stroll, but with this confirmation, Drugovich will participate in the Le Mans 24 Hours as scheduled.
As Stroll prepares for Sunday’s race, his recovery marks a significant development for Aston Martin, which seeks to capitalize on momentum as the season progresses.
