Aston Martin said on Sunday that Brazilian Felipe Drugovich will make his Formula 1 debut in the season opener in Bahrain next weekend if Lance Stroll is unable to return in time from a cycling injury.
The team said it would give the 24-year-old Canadian athlete a chance, the son of the team’s billionaire owner Lawrence.
“If he is not fit to compete, then Felipe will drive the AMR23 with Fernando [Alonso]”, they added.
Stroll missed the three-day pre-season test Thursday through Saturday at Bahrain’s Sakhir circuit with reserve driver Drugovich doing 117 laps as a substitute alongside the world champion Twice Alonso.
The team provided some details about Stroll’s bike accident during training in Spain, in addition to saying he suffered a wrist injury.
Aston Martin has two official reserve teams, the other being Belgian Stoffel Vandoorne – former McLaren F1 driver and reigning Formula E champion and racing in the electric series in Cape Town on Saturday.
Team confirmation that Formula 2 champion Drugovich, 22, will race if Stroll cannot settle speculation that the four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel could make a surprise return.
Vettel retired at the end of last season but team principal Mike Krack told reporters in Bahrain they remained in touch and did not say whether the German wanted to return.
Aston Martin started last season with a reserve driver in the first two races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia after Vettel tested positive for COVID-19.
Nico Hulkenberg was a substitute at the time but the German has now secured a full-time starting position at Haas.
