Lance Stroll has given an encouraging update on his wrist injury ahead of the Formula 1 Austrian Grand Prix, expressing confidence that the recent surgery has fully addressed the issue.
In an unexpected setback before the 2023 campaign began, the Canadian racing driver fractured both wrists in a cycling accident.
With just over two weeks until the race in Bahrain, Stroll had suffered a broken big toe, a fractured right wrist, and a hairline fracture in his left wrist.
Just two days later, he underwent surgery in Barcelona but made a full recovery in time to compete in the desert.
Despite lingering pain, Stroll pushed through and impressively finished sixth at the season opener.
However, after qualifying for the 2025 Spanish Grand Prix, Aston Martin confirmed Stroll would need further surgery, forcing him to miss the race.
The wrist pain had flared up again, and the statement revealed he had been suffering for the past few months as a result of the initial procedure.
He returned for the Canadian Grand Prix but struggled to a disappointing 17th place at his home race.
But Stroll feels confident he has now put the injury behind him and is ready to get back to his best form.
Answering a question from PlanetF1.com about his recovery plan, Stroll said: “I’ve been working on it — mostly gym exercises and stretching.”
On whether he feels confident the latest surgery has fully resolved the issue, he replied, “Yeah, it should be good to go.”
Aston Martin searching for form as Stroll struggles to unlock performance
It’s been a slow-burning season for Aston Martin so far; Stroll secured points finishes in the opening races in Australia and China but has struggled to score any points since the Miami Sprint.
Meanwhile, his teammate Fernando Alonso has faced his own share of bad luck, failing to score points until his home Grand Prix in Spain.
However, the Imola upgrade package has clearly benefited Alonso, helping him feel more in tune with the AMR25. He backed that up with another top-10 finish in Canada.
The British team is locked in a tight battle with Sauber and Alpine for eighth place in the Constructors’ Championship — not quite where they want to be. Still, Alonso’s recent progress has provided some encouragement.
Stroll, on the other hand, suggested in Canada that the upgrades hadn’t yet made a difference for him, as he continues to struggle with his car’s performance.
But heading into Austria, Stroll has adopted a more measured perspective on his challenges.
“I think it’s always tough jumping straight into the pen after a 57-lap race,” he said with a laugh, “when you’re just grinding it out and things don’t go your way.
“Reflecting on the last few weeks, it’s definitely not where I want to be or the results I want to get. I think the car has become more competitive — Fernando has shown that.
“So yeah, I’m really looking forward to this weekend; it’s a track I love and brings back good memories over the years.
“It’s a great lap here, just going through the mountains and dealing with the elevation changes. It’s always a short lap with a tight grid, which makes it exciting.
“Overall, I’m just looking forward to the weekend.”
READ MORE — Why Lance Stroll is still struggling despite Aston Martin’s 2025 F1 resurgence
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