Lance Stroll's Temper Tantrum

I have waited to post this one until all the information rose to the surface because it is quite a weird story, and what's even more bizarre is that Aston Martin appear to be hiding the truth from us. What really happened in Barcelona to Lance Stroll and why did he miss the Spanish Grand Prix?

To fully understand the truth, and perhaps the lies, in this story, we have to go all the way back to the start of the 2023 season. Just as Aston Martin were on the turn of performance, and just before Fernando Alonso scored a podium at the opening race in Bahrain, Lance Stroll sustained fractures and a broken toe in a cycling accident. He went through surgery and rehabilitation to make an almost heroic return for the start of the 2023 season. He finished the race in sixth, with his teammate on the podium, but it was a big middle finger to the public eye and to the medical team who had doubted he would be able to compete.

While 2023 seemed to continue fairly straightforwardly for Stroll, ahead of the 2024 season, the Canadian did reveal that he had taken a much more cautious approach to his training program. Aston's pace dropped off toward the end of the 2023 season, and 2024 probably saw a more relaxed approach from Stroll as a whole anyway. But, after just 8 full race weekends, and the opening to the ninth, Lance Stroll has pulled out of the Spanish Grand Prix after qualifying in 14th position on Saturday. Here's where it gets very weird.

After Q2, it was announced that Aston Martin and Stroll were under investigation for the driver missing the mandatory weigh-in immediately after qualifying. Drivers are to be weighed before they consume anything, or have the chance to hide away from scrutiny - avoiding the obvious joke of "weights in their pockets". Aston were handed a warning after explaining that Lance wanted to seek medical attention, and the Canadian did eventually get weighted and complete his media duties.

Later that evening, an official statement emerged from Aston Martin, who claimed Lance has been struggling with his injuries for six weeks, and reached a point on Saturday where he could no longer continue to perform. They explained the reasoning behind him missing the weigh-in, and the stewards expressed their understanding of the situation and gave sympathy. That, it seems, is that then - right? Wrong.

On Grand Prix day, rumours started circling that Lance had injured his hand in a temper tantrum after being eliminated again in Q2. Sources from the Aston Martin team claim the 26-year old lost his temper, damaged equipment, swore, and injured his hand in the process, while others claim that the injury and the temper were unrelated. Lance is described as being "upset".

This isn't the first time Lance has been upset after being eliminated in qualifying. Recall the Qatar 2023 Grand Prix Qualifying session in which Lance appeared to shove his trainer and throw his steering wheel out of the cockpit following his elimination in Q1. The FIA launched an investigation at the time regarding compliance with the FIA's rules, policies, and procedures, but received a formal apology from lance regarding his actions. At the time, Lance's actions appeared to fall under the FIA ISC Article 12.2.1.c, the same that Max Verstappen contravened when he pushed Esteban Ocon at the 2018 Brazilian Grand Prix.

However, if you're ready for this to get even stranger, another source at Aston Martin denied that anything was broken or that Stroll swore at anyone in the garage. It's uncertain if this came after the official Aston Martin statement to F1 and the media. So it's unclear who we are to believe, did Lance really lose his temper? Will we ever know? What is important, though, is that he has indeed been advised to go and have an operation which could mean his misses his home race in Montreal in just under 2 weeks.

The problem with that is, both of Aston's reserve drivers, Stoffel Vandoorne and Felipe Drugovich are competing in the 24 hours of Le Mans on the same weekend, a far more prestigious event that could do more for their respective careers than standing in for Lance Stroll in Canada. Especially as Aston didn't actually lose any points in Spain without Stroll, based on his current performances. Aston Martin reserve the right to pull either of them from the Triple Crown event at any time, but they are not Aston's only options. Since they currently use Mercedes engines, they also have access to their pool of reserve drivers - which includes none other than Valtteri Bottas.

It's mild speculation for sure, but there are a handful of other drivers who also have the required license points to race - this includes, but is not limited to Sebastian Vettel, who last raced for the Silverstone team in 2022 before retiring from the sport and opening up the most ludicrous silly season we've had in a while. It is pretty far fetched to assume Vettel would make a single-race return, but it would be epic to see Alonso and Vettel at the same team, albeit a decade after their rivalry and, in some peoples' opinions, their respective prime.

Aston Martin is keen not to rush Stroll's recovery and risk further injury, but team principal Mike Krack insists that "Plan A" is for Lance to be in the car for the Grand Prix, failing that they are going to be patient and wait until they have to make the decision.

Do you think Vettel could make an F1 comeback? Do you think Bottas is the right choice for stability, and for his chance to make a name for himself for the 2026 season again? Let us know in the comments.