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Why F1 team can't replace injured driver at Spanish GP as little-known rule explainedJust 19 drivers were left to start the Spanish Grand Prix after Aston Martin confirmed after qualifying

that Lance Stroll had withdrawn with pain in his hand and wristCommentsSportDaniel Moxon Senior F1 Writer12:54, 01 Jun 2025Lance Stroll withdrew from the Spanish Grand Prix through

injury(Image: Getty Images) Aston Martin were only able to field one driver at the Spanish Grand Prix after it became clear that Lance Stroll was unable to race. The Canadian qualified 14th

for the Barcelona race but did not start, his team confirming on Saturday night that he was not going to take to the grid.

Stroll is set to undergo a procedure on his hand and wrist after experiencing increased pain in both. It is believed that the problem is related to the operation he had two years ago, after

an accident while cycling in Spain during pre-season training ahead of the 2023 campaign.

‌ Within just a few weeks, Stroll was back racing and impressed by finishing sixth despite both wrists not being fully healed. But it seems one of those hands has not properly recovered and

now he must undergo another operation to fix the problem.

‌ An Aston Martin team statement read: "Over the course of the past six weeks, Lance has been experiencing pain in his hand and wrist, which his medical consultant believes is in relation to

the procedure he underwent in 2023.

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Article continues below "As a result his medical team have confirmed that he will not race tomorrow and he will undergo a procedure to rectify these issues before focusing on his recovery."

As a result, Fernando Alonso was left as the only driver to represent Aston Martin in the Barcelona race. The two-time Formula 1 champion started 10th on the grid and was seeking his first

points of the season after a terrible run of luck which had denied him a top 10 finish.

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at Spanish GP Aston Martin have one of their reserve drivers, Felipe Drugovich, with them in Barcelona this weekend. However, the rules do not allow the Brazilian racer to take Stroll's

place – because anyone who wants to race must have taken part in at least one other session that weekend.

‌ Stroll had intended to race and so took part in all three practice sessions and qualifying. As Drugovich did not, he is unable to fill in for the Canadian and so Aston Martin were left

with no choice other than to field just the one car. Stroll's result will officially be recorded as DNS – Did Not Start.

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