Stroll fit to race for Aston Martin in Bahrain GP

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Lance Stroll will be back behind the wheel this weekend with Aston Martin and will take part in the opening round in Bahrain of the 2023 F1 world championship.

The Canadian was forced to sit out pre-season testing with his team due to a wrist injury sustained in a cycling crash while training in Spain.

While it was but a minor fall, Stroll's right wrist required surgery for him to be operational for this weekend's curtain-raiser.

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"It was frustrating not to be out in Bahrain for the pre-season test and I was disappointed to miss the three days of running," commented the Aston charger in a statement released by the team on Thursday.

"However, given the injury to my wrist, the team and I felt it was best to focus on recovery so that I would be ready for this weekend and the long season ahead."

There was initially little information about Stroll's accident, but the Canadian opened up on the circumstances of the crash.

"It was an unfortunate accident – I fell from my bike when my tyre caught a hole in the ground - but thankfully the damage was not significant and a successful minor surgery on my right wrist fixed the problem very quickly," he explained.

"Since then, I've been working hard with my team to ensure that I am fully fit to compete this weekend.

"I would like to thank the F1 community for their support and privacy, as well as the team who have helped my recovery.

"Now I'm ready to get my head down and concentrate on racing this weekend – something I'm really looking forward to."

Aston Martin says that both its reserve drivers – Felipe Drugovich and Stoffel Vandoorne – remain on site in Bahrain, just in case.

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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.