Aston Martin confirms that Drugovich would replace Stroll

Aston Martin has this morning confirmed that Felipe Drugovich will exchange Lance Stroll on the season opener subsequent weekend if the Canadian is not absolutely recovered.

Amidst hypothesis that the Silverstone-based outfit may name on the providers of its former driver, Sebastian Vettel, the staff issued the next assertion this morning.

“The staff will proceed to provide Lance each likelihood to race, pending restoration from his damage. Ought to he not be match to compete, then Felipe will drive the AMR23 alongside Fernando.”

With the staff refusing to provide detailed info on the extent of Stroll’s damage, resulting in some sections of the media claiming he has damaged each his wrists, no less than we now know who will exchange him.

Whereas the F2 champion gave a great account of himself in testing, the uncertainty over the plans for subsequent weekend led to Alonso being given essentially the most time within the automobile.

Nonetheless, the teenager accomplished 117 laps with out placing a wheel improper, and tremendously impressed the staff.

“I feel we now have made good progress throughout the three days of operating,” he mentioned on Saturday, after posting the tenth finest time of the day, 0.625s off Alonso’s tempo, albeit on barely softer tyres.

“I’m happy with the set-up adjustments which were made since my first day,” he added, “the staff have accomplished a very good job implementing the suggestions Fernando and I’ve given.

“It has been a useful expertise to match my very own observations with these of a two-time world champion. Normally, our feedback are related and I feel we now have labored properly collectively to assist the staff maximise our three days of pre-season testing.

“The automobile appears like a step ahead from final yr, however we have to keep in mind that all groups can have developed over the winter and so we are going to proceed working onerous to take care of this momentum. We’re feeling constructive, though we is not going to have a real indication of our relative tempo till qualifying subsequent Saturday.”