Stroll is reportedly missing Bahrain and Jeddah, replaced by Drugovic

Aston Martin F1 has confirmed that young Formula 2 champion and last year’s reserve driver, Felipe Drugovic, will be the driver who will – if necessary – replace Lance Stroll in the AMR23 cockpit after the Canadian previously retired for ten days injured his right arm in Spain.

As the first information about Stroll’s injury – unconfirmed by the Silverstone team – emerges, the possibility arises that the young Canadian could miss both the inaugural GP of F1 2023, the upcoming three days in Bahrain and the next one – two weeks later becomes. from Saudi Arabia.

According to reports from Spanish media, Stroll was injured while training on a bicycle near the town of Mijas in Malaga, Andalusia. Stroll visited the Xanit Hospital in Banalmadena and then went to the Dexeus Hospital in Barcelona to be examined by doctor Xavier Mir.

Mir is one of the most popular doctors in European motorsport having examined and operated on a number of riders, mostly MotoGP. For all that is known, Mir is said to have recommended Stroll to proceed with “mild” surgery on his injured right hand, which would put the Canadian out of contention for the first GP of 2023 or even the second on March 19 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Following his injury, rumors abounded about the driver who would replace Stroll – as the need arises – at the Bahrain GP. Aston Martin F1 had the option of one of its two reserve drivers, Felipe Drugovic and Stoffel Vandoorne, while not denying that there was even a brief surprise return for Sebastian Vettel, who retires from F1 at the end of 2022.

But after Stroll’s accident, time was of the essence. Vandoorne was in South Africa for the Formula E race and the English team decided to give Drugovic the AMR23 for the Bahrain test. That’s not to say the Brazilian was a hopeless solution: he’s a Formula Two champion, just as McLaren’s Oscar Piastri was before him.

So, coupled with the endless hours he’s spent in the simulator, Drugovic is the only rider with enough AMR23 experience to face the demands of the first GP of the year with a solid foundation.

Furthermore, it didn’t seem like such a well thought out idea to sideline a talent Aston Martin is developing in favor of a seasoned ex-champ who may not be in such good shape after last November. In addition, Drugovic left Team Principal Mike Krak thoroughly satisfied with his performance in the AMR23 cockpit during the first morning and second afternoon of testing in Bahrain.