David Croft shares what he’s heard about Felipe Drugovich racing for Aston Martin after Lance Stroll’s injury

Aston Martin were left with only one car on the grid at the Spanish Grand Prix after a recurrence of a wrist injury ruled out Lance Stroll from participating.

Lance Stroll injured both of his wrists in a cycling accident on the eve of the 2023 Formula 1 season.

Aston Martin were preparing Felipe Drugovich in case he needed to deputise for the Canadian and he took part in pre-season testing that year.

However, Stroll made a swift recovery and returned to score points at the opening race in Bahrain.

Some fans were cynical about Stroll’s absence when Aston Martin announced that he wouldn’t take part in the race after qualifying 14th for the Spanish Grand Prix.

Attention is now turning to Stroll’s potential absence at the Canadian Grand Prix, with Aston Martin unsure whether the 26-year-old will be available to race.

Valtteri Bottas has emerged as an option for Aston Martin, but Drugovich is their preferred reserve driver.

Commentator David Croft shared what he’d heard about the Brazilian’s stance on a potential F1 debut and this was backed up by journalist Julianne Cerasoli.

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Felipe Drugovich ‘available’ to replace Lance Stroll at the Canadian Grand Prix

Croft was preparing to cover the race for Sky Sports F1 (1/6 1:23 pm) and when asked about the Aston Martin driver situation, he said: “Felipe Drugovich is definitely about, we saw the guy who wouldn’t stay at Le Mans if there was a chance in Canada in two weeks time to take his place on the Formula 1 grid.

“He is the reserve driver for Aston Martin and if Lance Stroll can’t take part in his home race, I understand Drugovich would be available to deputise.”

Cerasoli was speaking on the Pit Pass F1 Podcast after the race and shared some additional information on the former Formula 2 champion.

She said: “At the moment, on Sunday night, it’s still up in the air whether he would be fit for Canada.

“His substitute would be Felipe Drugovich, but Drugovich would need to know that sooner rather than later.

“It’s on Drugovich’s contract that he’s the number one option in case they need a driver, but also he would be racing in Le Mans, and they need to know by Friday if there would be any chance of him racing because in that case, he would drop the drive at Le Mans and focus on Formula 1.”

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Felipe Drugovich deserving of Formula 1 debut after years of waiting at Aston Martin

Since Drugovich won the F2 title in 2022, he’s spent the majority of his time working behind the scenes at Aston Martin.

He’s taken part in sporadic races in other series and as Cadillac are linked with Drugovich for when they make their F1 debut next season, he would need to be assured that he’s going to take part in the Canadian Grand Prix if he’s sacrificing racing for them in Le Mans.

The Brazilian impressed during a practice session earlier in the year in Bahrain, while Brazilian fans sang Drugovich’s name after Stroll crashed at Interlagos in the rain last season.

A report from UOL has said that Drugovich and Stroll’s engineers were all unaware he was about to withdraw from the race in Spain after qualifying.

They believe Drugovich would certainly turn down racing at Le Mans for a chance to drive alongside Fernando Alonso and that his Aston Martin contract states he must be approached first for the role if Stroll is unavailable.

Drugovich is highly rated by Aston Martin engineers but will need to know by Friday which race he’s taking part in on 15 June.

“I have confidence that God has something prepared for me,” Drugovich said on Sunday, but he’s still waiting to find out exactly what that preparation entails.