Manama, Bahrain – Aston Martin driver Lance Stroll will compete in the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix after breaking both wrists and missed last week’s preseason testing at the circuit.
The Canadian told reporters that he had a screw inserted in his right wrist after minor surgery about 11 days ago after falling off his bike during training in Spain.
“It was an unfortunate accident, I fell off my bike when my tire got punctured, but thankfully the damage was not critical and a successful minor surgery on my right wrist fixed the problem very quickly,” he said. Said. “Since then, I have been working hard with my team to make sure I am fully fit to compete this weekend.”
The left wrist was also “slightly broken” but was repaired by doctors.
“It hurts a bit but it feels good, it feels solid and it’s nothing I haven’t done before,” said Stroll, who was able to ride the bumps and steering without any problems in the team simulator on Wednesday. Had been.
“Professional athletes in every sport are in a little bit of trouble sometimes, and if I felt like it wasn’t smart, or I was at risk of hurting myself, if I felt like my bones weren’t ready, I I won’t do it,” he added.
“But I feel confident, the doctors feel confident, and here I am.”
Stroll, 24, has only got 17 shakedown laps in the team’s new AMR23 car,
“Not being in Bahrain for the preseason test was disappointing and I missed three days of racing,” he said. “However, given my wrist injury, the team and I felt it was best to focus on recovery so that I could be ready for this weekend and the long season ahead.”
Aston Martin said that Drugovich and fellow reserve driver Stoffel Vandoorne would remain on site in case Stroll caught a wrist during practice or qualifying.
The team finished seventh in the previous year’s Constructors’ Championship and have since added experienced driver Fernando Alonso to the team with Stroll. Alonso was second fastest on the opening day and third on the second day when the Spaniard completed 130 laps.
“It looks great,” Stroll said. “I think everybody’s really excited, I’m really excited.”
Aston Martin finished seventh overall last year but are tipped to move up the pecking order.