.png){kind=small}
In the hours after qualifying P14 for the Spanish Grand Prix, Lance Stroll withdrew from the remainder of the weekend and Aston Martin announced the Canadian veteran required an additional surgery to repair his hand and wrist. Prior to the 2023 season, Stroll sustained multiple fractures in a cycling accident and remarkably recovered in time to finish P6 in the season opener. With no timetable for his return, speculation ran wild about who will partner with Fernando Alonso for the Canadian Grand Prix on June 14th.
Let's dive into the F1 Fantasy impact of Stroll's absence, answer a few common questions about how the game handles these situations, and speculate who will pilot his Aston Martin in Canada.
Why did Stroll score -20 points in Spain?
The game did not place the Inactive label on Stroll prior to the Grand Prix, and since he wasn't listed on the final starting grid he was not classified as Did Not Start (DNS) or Did Not Finish (DNF). However, for the 2025 season the fantasy rulebook included a penalty for any driver in the game that does not race:
"DNF/Not Classified penalties apply to all drivers, including those classed [sic] as inactive or otherwise not included in the final starting grid list for the race"
Following this provision, he received a 20-point penalty for Race Not Classified.
Why did Stroll's price decrease?
Typically, Inactive drivers only incur penalties and maintain their price, but since Stroll was an active driver in the game he received the steepest price drop for a Tier B driver, $0.6M.
What will happen if Stroll misses the Canadian Grand Prix?
Should Stroll miss the Canadian Grand Prix, his driver card will become Inactive. Teams with an Inactive driver receive a 5-point penalty for Qualifying, 20-point penalty for the Grand Prix, and 20-point penalty for the Sprint race when applicable. His price will remain at $9.1M until he returns.
How will the game price Stroll's replacement?
When we consider the Colapinto-for-Doohan and Tsunoda-for-Lawson swaps this year, F1 Fantasy typically brings drivers in at the same price as the outgoing driver. This is likely to ensure that players with Stroll on their teams can afford the new asset. In recent memory, one driver entered at a cheaper price than the driver he replaced: last season, Liam Lawson entered at $10.2M, less than Daniel Ricciardo's $11M price and equal to his teammate, Yuki Tsunoda. We could see Stroll's replacement cost $4.5M to match Fernando Alonso.
How long will Stroll be out?
Stroll's initial injury in 2023 occurred just two weeks before he competed in Bahrain. The next Grand Prix takes place in exactly two weeks, but it's hard to imagine Aston Martin would let him compete so quickly considering the longterm discomfort he felt from rushing back the first time. F1 takes a mini summer break between Silverstone and Spa on July 27th, returns for two races, then shuts down until August 31st. These could be some milestones for Stroll to target a return to the grid.
Who could replace him?
Aston Martin entered this season with two reserve drivers: Felipe Drugovich and Stoffel Vandoorne. The 2022 Formula 2 Champion, Drugovich ran several rookie Free Practice 1 tests in recent seasons, including earlier this year in Bahrain. Vandoorne raced full time in F1 for the 2017 and 2018 seasons and served as a reserve driver for multiple teams since he left the grid. Given Drugovich's recent history in F1 machinery, he has the edge to replace Stroll.
Be sure to follow me @FanAmpFantasyHQ on your favorite social and tune into the next episode of The Fantasy Formula for the latest on this and other F1 Fantasy news.
%20(1).webp)
.webp)
.webp)
.webp)
.webp)
.webp)
.jpg)
