Lance Stroll has been passed fit to race in the Canadian Grand Prix this weekend after his Barcelona absence. Stroll withdrew after qualifying last time out due to intense pain in hands and wrists.
This was a legacy of a bicycle crash in 2023 where Stroll sustained multiple fractures. Aston Martin said the problem had resurfaced in the last couple of months and became unmanageable in Spain.
Having undergone a procedure, Stroll was a doubt for his home race in Montreal. There was talk that Aston could call up reserve driver Felipe Drugovich, pencilled in for the Le Mans 24 Hours this weekend, or even Mercedes backup Valtteri Bottas.
But the team confirmed on Wednesday that the 26-year-old was ready. Stroll has scored points on five of his six visits to Canada, with his best result a P7 last year.
Lance Stroll spotted ‘wincing in pain’ at the Canadian Grand Prix
There was an additional layer to the Stroll injury story after a reported meltdown in the Aston Martin garage. It was alleged that he shouted at team staff, punched a wall and threw objects.
An Aston Martin mechanic denied that Stroll swore at his colleagues. It’s unclear if his frustration was caused by the pain he was experiencing – he’d also suffered a disappointing Q2 exit.
Sky Sports commentator David Croft heard that Stroll damaged a helmet.
Speaking on the ‘Podbook’ before the Canadian Grand Prix, Ted Kravitz and Craig Slater noted Stroll’s guarded demeanour in the press conference, and also made a worrying observation about his condition. The exchange played out as follows.
Kravitz: “He didn’t flatly rebuff, refuse or deny any more of the lurid stories that he was shouting at people. He just said, ‘Yes I was very upset’.
Slater: “A lot of people are saying they wish he would have actually come out and said, ‘No, I punched the wall.’
Kravitz: “He didn’t have much to say today at all, sat there chewing gum throughout the press conference.
Slater: “[He] conspicuously [had] his right-hand in his pocket, which Ace Detective David Croft picked up on and wanted to know if that was the hand that had been damaged, and Stroll had to concede that indeed it was.
“We saw him in the garage today, wincing in pain, it would appear, as he sat in the cockpit, which didn’t augur particularly well.
“Some people think it would be nice for Stroll to admit how angry he got, just to counter this notion that he’s a phlegmatic, reluctant campaigner in Formula 1, who’s just there in some people’s minds to carry out his father’s racing ambitions and his heart and soul isn’t into it.”
Fernando Alonso shares what’s impressed him about Lance Stroll
Stroll’s Aston Martin teammate Fernando Alonso offered his verdict on Stroll’s injury problems during his Thursday media duties. Alonso scored his first points of the season by finishing ninth in Spain.
In the eyes of Alonso, Stroll has demonstrated impressive commitment by returning so quickly. And as noted by Slater, critics have often cited a lack of motivation.
“Hopefully now he can feel back to 100%,” he said, as quoted by the sport’s official website. “Already that he is here racing shows a commitment, and it shows he’s really working hard to feel well in the car and to perform at 100%.
“We are all very happy for him, especially in Canada because it’s his home race that he’s here and hopefully a great weekend for him.”
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