Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula One Team announced Fernando Alonso teammate Lance Stroll is fit to contest the Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix this weekend, returning to the F1 paddock for the season opener.
The Canadian driver missed pre-season testing - held last week in Bahrain - due to an injury on his wrist sustained while training on his bicycle in Spain.
In that regard, the 24-year-old stated: “It was frustrating not to be out in Bahrain for the pre-season test, and I was disappointed to miss the three days of running.”
Speaking about the accident, he stressed: “It was an unfortunate accident - I fell from my bike when my tire caught a hole in the ground - but thankfully, the damage was not significant.”
Stroll further revealed he underwent a “successful minor surgery” on his right wrist, which “fixed the problem very quickly.”
Adding: “Since then, I’ve been working hard with my team to ensure that I am fully fit to compete this weekend. Now I am ready to get my head down and concentrate on racing this weekend something I’m really looking forward to.”
On February 20th, the Silverstone-based outfit released a statement confirming the driver was involved in a “minor accident” in Spain, forcing him to sit out from the cockpit.
Aston Martin’s reserve driver Felipe Drugovich stood in for the Montreal native at winter testing, hitting the track in Thursday and Saturday morning sessions, completing 117 laps.
After wrapping up his testing program, sharing driver duties with Alonso, the reigning Formula 2 champion commented: “I am pleased with the set-up changes made since my first day in the car; the team has done a really good job implementing the feedback Fernando and I gave.”
Following speculation on Stroll’s recovery status ahead of the first Grand Prix of the 2023 season, the squad took to social media, asserting the team “will continue to give Lance every chance to race, pending recovery from his injury. Should he not be fit to compete, then Felipe will drive the AMR23 alongside Fernando.”
Stroll and Alonso will start their first season together as the experienced two-time Formula One world champion will set off his maiden campaign in the series driving for Aston Martin, his 20th overall.
During the final testing session, the Spaniard, 41, recorded his fastest lap of the entire test in the afternoon, setting a 1.31.450s lap time and finishing in ninth place overall.
Sergio Perez for Oracle Red Bull Racing topped the charts clocking up a 1.30.305s lap time.
Talking to the media in Bahrain on Thursday, Alonso said: “I have no idea where we are in terms of position. The aim [with this car] was to make a step forward, which I think we did.
“The results from the test were very encouraging, and the feeling from the car, but this is just a start.”
Reserve drivers Drugovich and Stoffel Vandoorne will attend the Grand Prix weekend, remaining on standby with the team.