Lance Stroll confirmed he experienced no pain after returning to the Aston Martin cockpit at the Canadian Grand Prix, despite crashing during the second practice session. Following a previous absence in Spain due to hand and wrist issues that required medical intervention, Stroll was eager to compete at his home race but saw his session cut short after hitting the wall early in FP2 at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.
Details of the Crash and Vehicle Damage at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve
Stroll had managed to complete several laps before encountering trouble in FP2 when he made contact with the barrier exiting Turn 7. This collision severely damaged the front-left steering arm of his Aston Martin AMR25, forcing the team to call an end to his on-track running that day. When asked about the cause of the crash, Stroll described it simply as
“Just a bit of understeer and touched the wall.”
Despite the incident, Stroll stated that being back in the car felt positive, remarking,
“Yeah, it felt quite good, so I was happy.”
He emphasized that he did not feel any pain after the crash, confirming, “No, felt good,” which was a relief given his recent physical challenges and the crash’s abrupt end to his practice.
Assessing Performance and Outlook After Practice Sessions
Ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix, Stroll took part in practice at Circuit Paul Ricard, gathering valuable laps in his Aston Martin F1 car to prepare for the weekend’s racing. While FP1 proceeded without event, the FP2 crash disrupted his rhythm. Asked how the car felt before the crash, Stroll noted it was still early in the session, saying,
“It was like the first lap, so tough to say.”
He remained optimistic about recovering, stating,
“But we’ll reset and go again tomorrow.”
Regarding adjustments made between the practices, Stroll added,
“Yeah, not too bad, made some changes. Unfortunately, we didn’t really get to feel the changes we made.”
Despite these setbacks, the Aston Martin team maintained hope, especially as teammate Fernando Alonso finished fifth fastest in FP2, suggesting the AMR25 had competitive pace for qualifying and the race ahead.
Implications for Stroll and Aston Martin Moving Forward
Lance Stroll’s ability to return to racing pain-free after his crash at the Canadian Grand Prix is critical for both his confidence and performance in upcoming sessions. The incident’s impact on practice time poses challenges, but with the car showing promise through Alonso’s strong performance, the team is positioned to contend in qualifying and beyond. Stroll’s commitment to resetting and pushing forward highlights his readiness to overcome adversity and return to form as the season progresses.
