F1: Lance Stroll to miss preseason testing

Lance Stroll will miss the Bahrain preseason test after being involved in a minor training accident.

While training for the up-and-coming Formula One season, Stroll was on involved in a minor accident on a bicycle. Stroll has sustained injuries which will result in the Canadian missing the pre-season test.

Stroll’s replacement has yet to be announced with Felipe Drugovich in the running for the seat. Stoffel Vandoorne is also a reserve driver for the Aston Martin team, but will be busy with Formula E commitments.

The Canadian is now aiming to be fit for the first race of the season in Bahrain, with the first race being held on the fifth of March. Lance Stroll’s condition will be assessed and checked daily, in the hope to return to the cockpit soon.

Lance Stroll said: “I’ve had an unfortunate accident whilst training on my bike in preparation for the season. I am determined to get back in the car and I am excited about the season ahead with the team. I am motivated to bounce back from this setback as quickly as possible.”

The Canadian will be paired with Formula One Veteran, Fernando Alonso who switches to the Aston Martin team. Alonso raced for Alpine last season and would finish ninth in the 2022 standings. 

At the team launch, Alonso said: “There is something going on in this team that makes things special, this is very different compared to any other team I joined where maybe they had success in the past and they were just in a comfortable position,”

Alonso had a similar incident preseason in 2021 while cycling when he was hit, entering a supermarket car park.

The 24-year-old would finish his 2022 in 15^th in the standings, behind his 2022 teammate, Sebastian Vettel. Stroll would place his best finish of the season, taking sixth place at Singapore.

2023 will be a ground-breaking season for Formula One, with the most races ever to be raced in one year. There will be 23 races this season, where drivers and teams will be pushed to the limit.

Image: Pirelli