Spanish GP Stewards Reveal Full Reason Behind Lance Stroll’s Pain Delay

Lance Stroll, the Aston Martin Formula 1 driver, withdrew from the Spanish Grand Prix after suffering from pain in his right hand and wrist. This pain was a result of a medical procedure he had following his cycling accident before the 2023 season.

His decision to step back came right after qualifying, which meant Aston Martin could not field a replacement driver for Sunday’s race at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.

Aston Martin had reserve drivers, such as Felipe Drugovich, the 2022 Formula 2 champion, and Valtteri Bottas, a Mercedes reserve and ten-time Grand Prix winner, available in theory. However, Formula 1’s sporting regulations set strict deadlines for making driver changes on race weekends.

According to Article 32.1, a team is allowed up to four drivers per season, but after qualifying, changing a driver needs special approval from the stewards under specific circumstances. Because Stroll’s withdrawal came after he finished qualifying in 14th place late Saturday, the opportunity to put another driver in the car had already passed.

Mike Krack, Aston Martin’s Chief Trackside Officer, said Stroll’s pain was related to his earlier surgery and had not improved enough for him to continue. Krack commented that developing a force majeure case for this event would be difficult with the available details, though they could consider such an application at a future race if Stroll’s condition remains an issue.

The FIA stewards released a full explanation following Stroll’s delay in attending his post-qualifying weigh-in. He did not take the defined route through the pit lane to the FIA scales and briefly left the garage by a different exit.

A report from the technical delegate, plus video evidence, confirmed the deviation. The hearing, first scheduled for Saturday afternoon, was postponed as Stroll was deemed unfit to appear in person due to his medical condition.

The next morning, on race day, a team representative and medical reports were presented to the stewards. In a letter, Stroll explained he had been in considerable pain and sought urgent medical care rather than report directly for weighing.

Medical documents confirmed that Stroll’s right hand and wrist needed immediate treatment, and further tests afterward supported his withdrawal as he was unfit to race. The stewards accepted that a real medical emergency was the reason for the missed procedure.

Still, they reminded the team that in such cases, the FIA should be notified immediately, so medical personnel can provide the right support and monitor the driver directly. As a result, the team only received a warning for not following protocol and for not informing FIA delegates sooner.

Sporting fairness and strict compliance with procedures are at the heart of Formula 1’s rules. While weighing drivers after sessions is a fundamental regulation designed to ensure equity, the stewards recognized that health must always come first.

Aston Martin now looks ahead to future races, focusing on Stroll’s recovery and following the proper procedures should another medical issue occur.