Lance Stroll Reflects on Wrist Pain During Bahrain Grand Prix: "Shedding Tears"
Aston Martin Lance Stroll reflects on his wrist pain during the Bahrain Grand Prix, admitting that he was "shedding tears" through the race.
It was a nail-biting moment for Aston Martin fans as their two drivers, Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso, collided on Turn 4 during the opening lap of the F1 Bahrain Grand Prix. The incident had fans holding their breath as they watched the Spaniard oversteer but skilfully catch it before spinning out.
Fortunately, the incident did not lead to a halt in the race, and Aston Martin fans were rewarded with a breathtaking race from their team. However, for Stroll, the moment was filled with agony as he was nursing wrist injuries from a cycling accident that occurred just two weeks prior.
Speaking about the incident, Stroll said:
"It was really terrible timing. I was going on the inside of George Russell, trying to stay in front of him. I braked late, Fernando went for the cutback on Lewis Hamilton. He really stopped the car in the middle of Turn 4 and we just came together."
Stroll's injuries were already causing him pain, and the crash only made it worse.
"My wrists were on fire after that, I was shedding a few tears after that one," Stroll said.
The timing of the crash could not have been worse for Stroll. The cycling accident had ruled him out of the Bahrain test, and he had undergone surgery on his wrists and was unable to walk. Despite this, he was determined to compete, and the incident with Alonso was a cruel blow.
"Most importantly we both stayed on track and went on to have a good race - dodged a bullet, for sure," Stroll added.
For Alonso, the incident was not without its confusion.
"I thought it was George," Alonso said about his early clash with his new teammate. "I saw the replay on TV later and it was Lance. He had a very good start because he was alongside me in Turn 4, we got lucky, two cars didn’t have any problems and we could continue."
For Stroll, the incident highlighted how close he came to missing the opening race of the 2023 season.
"It was a terrible time to crash on a bicycle, and doctors were telling me, 'Maybe Australia, maybe Baku…' The light at the end of the tunnel was very hard to see, but I had an incredible medical team that helped me along the way," he revealed.
Despite the agony and uncertainty leading up to the race, Aston Martin did not disappoint. The team had been rumoured throughout the winter to be the one to watch in 2023, and their stunning results on Sunday in Bahrain proved the hype was justified. Alonso finished on the podium after a brilliant overtake of Hamilton, and Stroll finished sixth.