Lance Stroll withdrew from the recent Spanish Grand Prix after qualifying due to an old injury to his right hand and wrist flaring up, according to Aston Martin. However, rumors circulated in the paddock suggesting that Stroll was so upset after his elimination in Q2 that a dispute broke out in the Aston Martin garage. Track manager Mike Krack has firmly denied these rumors.
The BBC was the first to report that there might have been a scuffle within the team. “On Sunday morning, it was revealed that Stroll lost his temper in the garage after being eliminated in Q1,” renowned reporter Andrew Benson wrote in a live blog. “Rumors circulated that Stroll had damaged equipment and verbally abused team members. A spokesperson later confirmed: ‘Lance was upset.’ However, the same spokesperson emphasized that this had nothing to do with the injury.”
Aston Martin track manager Mike Krack was later asked about the rumors surrounding Stroll. The Luxembourger dismissed these stories as ‘paddock gossip’. “I was at the pit wall and didn’t notice anything,” he responded to the media in Spain. Regarding Stroll’s injury, Krack stated that the Canadian driver had been experiencing pain for some time. “There has been talk of pain in recent weeks,” he explained. “Of course, you don’t ask every five minutes: ‘Are you in pain or not?’ But he occasionally had conversations with a physiotherapist. It gradually became apparent that there were some minor issues.”
‘Drivers Always Want to Race’
“Drivers always want to race – we saw how hard Lance Stroll fought last year,” added Krack. Stroll underwent surgery the day before the start of the 2023 season following a cycling accident. “They don’t want to be out of the running. Often, they drive with more pain than they admit. So, it was discussed occasionally over the past weeks, but you never know exactly how bad it is.”
“I think it just became too much,” emphasized Krack. “After the qualification, Lance and the team together decided that it was better not to race.” Whether Stroll will be back in action for his upcoming home race in Canada is still uncertain. Aston Martin has not yet provided clarity about his return. “It’s hard to predict,” concluded Krack. “We will have to wait and see what the coming days bring.” Several test and reserve drivers are on standby to potentially step in, including former Formula 2 champion Felipe Drugovich. He has already confirmed that he will forego his Le Mans commitments if needed in Formula 1.
