Is Lance Stroll really fit to run?

Recall of facts : Lance stroll misses winter testing in Bahrain (February 23-25) after injuring his wrist in a cycling accident while working on his fitness on Spanish roads ahead of the upcoming season.

After undergoing surgery on his right wrist, he was cleared to race this weekend in Sakhir. However, after three test sessions – his first representative tests at the wheel of the AMR23 – and a total of 60 laps, certain onboard images where he seems to have difficulty turning his steering wheel raise questions.

Proof of this is his short exchange at one point in FP2 with his race engineer Ben Michell suggesting that he change his line in the first corner in order to have a better trajectory in the next.

« I can't, man, I can't, with my hands », replies the Canadian. There is still this frustration which only harms his lap time, but what can we say about the end of the session where Stroll seems to need to be lifted up by his mechanics to get out of the cockpit.

The images obviously appeal, at least as much as the questions which therefore do not fail to arise regarding his ability to escape from his cockpit in five seconds maximum as required by the regulations!

Lance Stroll and his wrist less dangerous than Lewis Hamilton and his jewelry?

Even if he managed to successfully pass the extraction test, it is difficult not to remain circumspect, even taken aback, by the decision to let him race while at the same time the FIA ​​commissioners had to have received a medical report from the team doctor Mercedes, heard a representative of the team, consulted the FIA ​​medical delegate to authorize Lewis Hamilton running around with his nose piercings!

Let's admit that the parallel is surprising, not to mention shocking!

Stroll, for his part, asks no more questions than the representatives of sporting power. “ I feel good “, trumpets the Canadian. He barely agreed to confess a “ some stiffness "!

Asked about the fact that he seems to do without his right wrist in the corners, he says " just protect him and points out that " It's a little more comfortable like that ". Enough to last a little over 300 km?

We obviously hope so for the Quebecer who could not not run given the level of performance displayed by Aston Martin. If it had been in vain to try to dissuade him, perhaps it would have been more reasonable to force him to take a longer rest. This is not the case, but it is clear that risk-taking is important. Much more than running around with nose piercings, anyway.

Is Lance Stroll sufficiently recovered from his wrist injury? © Florent Gooden / DPPI