Drugovich to share Aston testing duties in Bahrain with Alonso

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Aston Martin has called upon reserve driver Felipe Drugovich to fill in for Lance Stroll in Bahrain this week when F1 kicks off its three days of pre-season testing.

Stroll has been sidelined from testing in the wake of a "minor" cycling accident suffered by the Canadian in Spain.

The team expects Stroll to make a speedy recovery but has yet to confirm his participation in next week's opening round of racing at Sakhir.

Read also: Injured Stroll sidelined from F1 pre-season testing!

In the interim, Drugovich will handle Aston's workload on Thursday morning while Alonso will take over in the afternoon. The team will update its schedule for the remainder of the test later this week.

Aston Martin's reserve bench also includes Stoffel Vandoorne. However, the former McLaren driver is committed this week to a round of the FIA Formula Championship in Cape Town, South Africa, with DS Penske.

Should Stroll's absence extend into next week, it's likely that Aston Martin will rely on Drugovich to sub for the Canadian in the Bahrain Grand Prix, a race that would mark the 22-year-old's F1 debut.

Drugovich's F1 experience is limited to a private test last season with Aston Martin in an older-spec car and to an outing in FP1 in Abu Dhabi last November.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.