Lance Stroll qualified for the Grand Prix of Spain on Saturday, but had to withdraw his participation in the race at short notice due to pain and wrist due to pain. The symptoms are late consequences of a medical intervention, which he had made after a bicycle accident before the start of the 2023 season.
However, the withdrawal was too late to use a replacement driver. Aston Martin with the Formula 2 champion from 2022, Felipe Drugovich, has its own replacement pilot. The ten-time Grand Prix winner Valtteri Bottas, currently in use as a replacement driver for Mercedes, would theoretically be available. But the sporting regulations are clear in terms of driver change during a race weekend.
Article 32.1 allows the teams to use a maximum of four different drivers in races during one season. But on an ordinary Grand Prix weekend, a driver change can no longer take place after qualifying.
No case of force majeure
Article 32.2 explains: “Provided that a driver change proposed after the end of the technical acceptance is approved by the sports commissioner, such a change may be made” firstly “at events without sprint format at any time before the start of qualifying”, and secondly “at events with sprint format either before the start of the sprint qualifying (for drivers who are supposed to take part in the sprint) or before the start of qualifying (for driving, that should take part in the race).
Since Aston Martin only announced Stroll’s withdrawal on Saturday evening – after qualifying – the permissible deadline had already passed. “In the past six weeks, Lance has complained about pain in hand and wrist, which, according to his treating doctor, can be attributed to the 192023 procedure,” said the team.
Since the problem has been emerging for some time, it should be difficult to assert a case of force majeure. However, this could look different for the upcoming Grand Prix in Canada – provided that Stroll is still not operational.