Aston Martin announced that Lance Stroll will not compete in Sunday’s F1 Spanish GP after experiencing ongoing pain in his hand and wrist related to a medical procedure from 2023.
Stroll’s withdrawal comes just hours after the F1 Spanish GP Qualifying, securing 14th place in a session that saw several major upsets at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.
Medical concerns force team decisions
In an official statement released ahead of the race, Aston Martin confirmed that Stroll has been dealing with persistent pain over the past six weeks.
“Over the course of the past six weeks, Lance has been experiencing pain in his hand and wrist, which his medical consultant believes is in relation to the procedure he underwent in 2023,” the team statement read.
“As a result, his medical team have confirmed that he will not race tomorrow, and he will undergo a procedure to rectify these issues before focusing on his recovery.”
With Stroll’s withdrawal confirmed after qualifying, Aston Martin faces a complex situation for Sunday’s race. Had the Canadian withdrawn before the qualifying session, reserve driver Felipe Drugovich could have stepped in to take his place.
All eyes will be on Stroll’s recovery timeline and when he might return to competitive action. Equally, intriguing will be the spotlight on Felipe Drugovich, who could potentially get his opportunity at the upcoming Canadian GP if Stroll’s recovery extends beyond this weekend.
