Drugovich returns to Aston Martin line-up for final day of F1 testing

Aston Martin has confirmed that Felipe Drugovich will take part in the final day of pre-season testing with the team.

The news comes amid uncertainty over the Silverstone-based squad’s driver line-up for the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix.

Lance Stroll was ruled out of testing after being involved in a biking accident in Spain.

Aston Martin has not committed to a line-up for the opening race of the campaign as it holds out hope that Stroll will be fit enough to return to the cockpit.

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The extent of Stroll’s injuries is not publicly known, other than that they involve his hand and wrist area. Aston Martin outlined that Stroll’s accident was “minor”.

But various suggestions in the paddock say that Stroll has suffered broken wrists, which if true, means that he could be sidelined for several weeks, depending on the severity of the injury.

Drugovich was called up for the first day of testing and took the car out on Thursday morning – however his run was marred by electrical issues.

He will have more time behind the wheel of the AMR23 on Saturday as he will drive the morning session before Fernando Alonso takes over in the afternoon.

The plan is likely to be added preparation for Drugovich in the situation that the Brazilian is called upon for the entire race event next weekend.

It would mark Drugovich’s grand prix debut after he joined the Aston Martin programme last year on the same day he was crowned the 2022 Formula 2 champion.

Prior to his pre-season test outing, Drugovich was also handed his FP1 debut in Abu Dhabi last year and also took part in the post-season young drivers’ test with Aston Martin.

Drugovich is one of two reserve drivers that Aston Martin has in its pool this year, with reigning Formula E World Champion Stoffel Vandoorne also on call.