Aston Martin Formula 1 driver Lance Stroll will miss the Singapore Grand Prix after his qualifying crash, of which he is still “feeling the after-effects”.
Stroll crashed at the final corner of the Marina Bay street circuit while chasing a late improvement in Q1 in a bid to avoid elimination.
After losing the car, he hit the barrier hard – and though he was given the all-clear after a subsequent trip to the medical centre, the team has now elected to stand him down for Sunday’s 62-lap race.
Stroll was due to start last after the accident, meaning his chances of scoring points with a charge were remote at a street circuit that is just not conducive to overtaking.
Aston said Stroll was “still sore” and also cited the fact it faces “a huge job” repairing the wrecked AMR-23.
“The whole team are relieved that Lance was able to step out of the car after yesterday’s accident – however, he is still feeling the after-effects of such a high-impact crash,” said team principal Mike Krack.
“Our priority now is that he makes a full and speedy recovery.
“Together, we have decided that he will sit out this evening’s race and instead focus fully on returning to the cockpit for next weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix.”
Stroll’s Aston will therefore be absent from the race, as the team cannot call upon a replacement at such late notice. A stand-in would’ve had to be slotted in before the start of qualifying.
The sole remaining AMR23 of the weekend, that of Fernando Alonso, is due to start the race in seventh place.
