Stroll: Aside from the pain, it was fun

Stroll: Aside from the pain, it was fun

Jad Mallak 2 min read

Stroll: Aside from the pain, it was fun

Lance Stroll delivered an impressive 2023 Bahrain Grand Prix weekend, driving before fully recovering from his cycling accident, something the Canadian enjoyed had it not been for the pain.

Lance Stroll did not take part in pre-season testing in Bahrain after his cycling accident left him recovering from various injuries in his wrists and toes, but impressively showed up for the season opening race around the desert venue.

Stroll impressed getting up to speed in his AMR23, qualifying eighth fastest and racing to sixth on a Sunday when teammate Fernando Alonso delivered a third place for Aston Martin.

It wasn’t a smooth race for Stroll, and his collided with Alonso on the opening lap, but both survived the contact and raced strongly to bag 23 points for their team, putting them second on the Formula 1 Constructors’ Standings behind Red Bull for now.

Speaking to the media after the race, Stroll was asked to sum his afternoon up; he said: “Aside from the pain, it was fun.

Asked why adrenaline from racing did not help; the Canadian said: “Even with adrenaline, broken bones still hurt. So not with two broken wrists.”

Stroll added: “Really happy for the team today. It’s a great way to start this season. Fernando on the podium, great result.

Ten days ago, I was a vegetable

“And I’m happy to pick up sixth considering everything that happened over the last two weeks, I couldn’t move 10 days ago, I couldn’t walk. I couldn’t move both hands. I was a vegetable pretty much. I didn’t think I would be here right now; still just processing everything.

“So it’s amazing to pick up these points, to drive this car. Great start to the season,” the Aston Martin driver insisted.

Aston Martin were in battle with Mercedes during the race and managed to beat them, Alonso beating Lewis Hamilton and Stroll beating George Russell.

Stroll reflected on that; he said: “It feels great. It’s great to beat Russell, I think we could have got Hamilton without the VSC, we lost some time there.

“We were catching him towards the end, but my pain was the biggest limiting factor in the last 20 laps. Just Turn 10, you know, the hairpins. I was struggling to just turn in with confidence without the pain.

“I mean, I was just trying to get to the end, but it was still just a lot of fun to drive the car today,” the one-time pole sitter concluded.

Aston Martin team principal Mike Krack credited Stroll’s drive on Sunday; he said: “Huge credit to Lance for his performance today, especially given his situation, and having missed all of winter testing.

“His determination to get back in the car has been very impressive and he has done a super job to qualify in eighth,” Krack added. (Additional reporting by Agnes Carlier)