F1 star breaks items in garage and swears at team members during furious meltdown
Lance Stroll, the Canadian Formula 1 driver, reportedly had a meltdown in the Aston Martin garage on Saturday after being eliminated from qualifying for the Spanish Grand Prix. According to eyewitnesses, Stroll lost his temper, broke objects, and swore at team members after failing to advance to the third qualifying session, Q3.
Stroll, who began his F1 career with Williams in 2017 before joining Aston Martin in 2019, has struggled to find consistency in his performances. Despite showing promise, he has finished in the bottom half of the Drivers’ Championship standings in all but one of his F1 seasons. His strongest campaign came in 2023 when he finished 10th.
On Saturday, Stroll qualified 16th, more than half a second behind his teammate Fernando Alonso, who went on to represent Aston Martin in the Spanish Grand Prix. Stroll’s elimination from qualifying was a disappointment, and his subsequent meltdown in the garage was a clear indication of his frustration.
However, Stroll’s anger was soon replaced by concern as he began experiencing pain in his hand and wrist. According to his team, the pain was related to a procedure he underwent in 2023, following a cycling accident. As a result, Stroll was forced to withdraw from Sunday’s race, and his participation in the upcoming Canadian Grand Prix remains uncertain.
Aston Martin confirmed that Stroll would undergo a procedure to rectify the issues with his hand and wrist before focusing on his recovery. The team also revealed that Stroll’s loss of temper and his injury were unrelated.
Stroll’s absence from the driver weighing scales after qualifying also raised eyebrows, and he was subsequently investigated by the FIA. He was handed an official warning, with the stewards’ verdict stating that he had failed to proceed through the pit lane as required.
In a letter to the stewards, Stroll explained that he had failed to attend the weighing immediately due to the pain he was experiencing. He sought urgent medical attention and attended the weigh-in and media pen as soon as he was able to, before heading to the medical centre for further evaluation.
The incident has raised concerns about Stroll’s fitness and his ability to compete at the highest level. With the Canadian Grand Prix just around the corner, Stroll will be eager to recover quickly and get back behind the wheel. However, his participation in the event remains uncertain, and Aston Martin will be hoping that their driver can make a speedy recovery.
