Stroll's injury: Only 19 drivers at the Spanish F1 Grand Prix!

Stroll's injury: Only 19 drivers at the Spanish F1 Grand Prix!

The Spanish Grand Prix, the ninth Formula 1 race of the season, took place on June 1, 2025. This year only a reduced number of 19 drivers took part in the race. Canadian driver Lance Stroll, who drives for the Aston Martin team, had to withdraw at short notice due to an injury to his palm and wrist. Stroll has been struggling for six weeks with problems resulting from surgery in 2023. His medical team has determined that he requires further surgery and should focus on his recovery.

As a result of Stroll's failure, all of the drivers behind him moved up one position on the starting grid. In qualifying, Stroll finished in 14th place. In this context, the Aston Martin team did not field a replacement driver. It is currently unclear how long Stroll will be away from the track, which sets the stage for the 2025 season.

Race situation and competition

McLaren's Oscar Piastri secured pole position, while his teammate Lando Norris started the race from second place. The competition between the two teammates is particularly exciting as Norris is only three points behind Piastri in the championship standings. This could prove crucial in a closely contested race.

The current status of the championship standings shows Piastri at the top, followed by Norris, while Stroll is in eleventh place for Aston Martin with 14 points. The gap to the top shows the challenges the team faces, especially given the personnel situation. Stroll's injury has put additional strain on the team, as the Canadian pilot usually plays a key role in the squad.

Aston Martin's development in Formula 1

Aston Martin has an eventful history in Formula 1. The brand initially competed in 1959 and 1960, but quickly disappeared again. The return to the premier class was made possible in 2021 by the takeover of the Force India team by Lawrence Stroll, who set the course for a new era with his investments of $235.6 million. After being renamed Racing Point, the team celebrated success in 2020. In 2021 the team competed under the name Aston Martin, but was unable to build on its previous successes.

In recent years, Aston Martin has been able to stabilize its position in midfield. In 2022, Stroll and his then teammate Sebastian Vettel scored a few points, although the big highlights failed to materialize. In 2023, Fernando Alonso took over Vettel's role. With 280 points collected, Aston Martin reached fifth place in the constructors' championship. This position was defended in 2024, but the point total fell to just 94 points.

The year 2025 is considered a year of change for Aston Martin. With the arrival of star designer Adrian Newey in March and the commissioning of its own wind tunnel, work is underway to improve the technical package. In 2026, Aston Martin is also expected to switch from a Mercedes customer to a Honda factory team. This move could bring about fundamental changes in the team's performance and competitiveness.

Unique challenges lie ahead for Aston Martin and Lance Stroll as the team prepares for a new future. The situation remains exciting and will have a significant impact on the coming races.

For more information on Stroll's cancellation and the current season, see the articles from Cosmo, Sports show and Motorsport magazine be called.