Stroll Withdraws from Spanish Grand Prix Due to Injury
Barcelona, Spain – Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll has been sidelined from the Spanish Grand Prix due to persistent pain in his hand and wrist. This condition is a consequence of a medical procedure following a cycling accident earlier this season.
Stroll qualified 14th in Saturday’s session, but his late withdrawal—announced after qualifying—left Aston Martin unable to replace him in accordance with Formula 1 regulations. Article 32 of the FIA Sporting Code states that any driver changes must occur before the start of the qualifying session in races that do not include a sprint.
"Over the course of the past six weeks, Lance has been experiencing pain in his hand and wrist, which his medical consultant believes is related to the procedure he underwent in 2023," stated the team in an official release.
According to the regulations, while Aston Martin has options for reserve drivers, including 2022 Formula 2 Champion Felipe Drugovich and Mercedes reserve Valtteri Bottas, the timing of the withdrawal renders any change unfeasible for this event. The team may explore options for a replacement should Stroll’s condition not improve in time for the Canadian Grand Prix.
Aston Martin’s Chief Trackside Officer, Mike Krack, noted that given the circumstances, establishing a ‘force majeure’ claim for replacement would be challenging. For now, the team is focused on monitoring Stroll’s recovery.
