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Lance Stroll Injury: This is Who Will Replace Him At Pre-Season Testing

Drugovich will take Stroll's place during the pre-season testing in Bahrain.

Lydia Mee

Lance Stroll Injury: This is Who Will Replace Him At Pre-Season Testing
Lance Stroll Injury: This is Who Will Replace Him At Pre-Season Testing /

Aston Martin has confirmed that Felipe Drugovich will take part in the pre-season testing of Formula 1 in Bahrain. This decision comes after Lance Stroll was involved in a biking accident in Spain and had to be ruled out of the testing. 

The team is hopeful that Stroll will recover in time to take part in the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix at the beginning of March. Drugovich will drive the car on the opening day of testing, which lasts for three days. He will share the car with Fernando Alonso, who will take over later in the afternoon.

Plans beyond the first day of testing will be announced later in the week. Drugovich joined Aston Martin as a reserve driver for the 2023 season, after winning the FIA Formula 2 Championship in the previous year. The Brazilian driver made his FP1 debut in Abu Dhabi and also drove for the team during the post-season test.

Drugovich is expected to make his grand prix debut in Bahrain, should Stroll not be able to drive at the opening race of the year. However, Aston Martin could also consider Stoffel Vandoorne, who is also a reserve driver for the team, and has more F1 experience than Drugovich. 

Vandoorne was not available for the testing this weekend, as he was travelling to Cape Town to participate in the latest round of the Formula E Championship.

It is worth noting that Aston Martin had to fit Nico Hulkenberg into its car at the opening race of the 2022 season, after Sebastian Vettel tested positive for Covid-19. The team will be hoping that Stroll recovers quickly and that they won't have to deal with any further disruptions before the start of the 2023 season.

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Lydia Mee
LYDIA MEE

Lydia is the lead editor of F1 editorial. After following the sport for several years, she was finally able to attend the British Grand Prix in person in 2017. Since then, she's been addicted to not only the racing, but the atmosphere the fans bring to each event. She's a strong advocate for women in motorsport and a more diverse industry. 

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