Brazilian Felipe Drugovich has a chance to replace Lance Stroll at Aston Martin in the Canada GP race, which will be held on June 15. This is because the team driver gave up the Spain GP with hand pain.
Stroll’s immediate reserve, Drugovich is expecting to run in the Canada GP and Sporting News brings details.
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Will Drugovich run the Canada GP?
Yet There is no confirmation about Druugovich’s participation in the Canada Grand Prix. According to the Aston Martin team, the Canadian will undergo a medical procedure to relieve persistent pain that has been with him for about six weeks.
The pains would be a consequence of a bicycle accident in 2023. At the time, he accelerated his recovery to run at the beginning of that season.
Team head Mike Krack said last Sunday (1) that the main plan is to have Stroll in the race in his homeland. However, the team already evaluates alternatives if the pilot is not in condition, being Felipe Drugovich the most quoted.
Formula 2 champion in 2022, the Brazilian has been with the team as a reserve rider ever since. Although he has not yet played any official race in Formula 1, he participated in six free training sessions – the latest was in this year’s Bahrain GP. Lack of experience in official racing can weigh against him, but his status as a main reserve puts him as a favorite for the vacancy.
Despite being scheduled to compete in the 24 hours of Le Mans, one of the most prestigious events of world motorsport, Drugovich said his priority is Formula 1.
– First, I wish the best for the bid. As for Le Mans, my priority has always been Formula 1, and that remains – told the band before the Spain GP.
What are the other options?
In addition to Drugovich, Belgian Stoffel Vandoorne is also an alternative. With McLaren between 2016 and 2018, he has been part of Aston Martin’s reserve team since 2023. However, he did not participate in official training by the team and was only in testing by Pirelli tire supplier. Like Drugovich, Stoffel is also registered for the 24 hours of Le Mans and would have to give up the race if he was summoned to F1.
Another possible name is the 20 -year -old Jak Crawford, who currently disputes Formula 2. Although he integrates the English team’s development program, he does not yet have the superstice required to run in Formula 1, which rules out the immediate options.
Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes reserve pilot, also emerges as a possibility. With 35 years and 246 F1 starts, the Finn accumulates 10 wins and 67 podiums. Currently without a starting lineup, it is available for teams using Mercedes engines – Aston Martin. Bottas recently tested a McLaren car (another Mercedes engine team) in a private session in Spain.
Frederik Voca, a 23 -year -old Danish, is also a Mercedes reserve pilot, but has less tread than other candidates and, like others, is committed to the Le Mans race, which may limit his chances.
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Who is Felipe Drugovich?
Felipe Drugavich Roncato is a Brazilian pilot born on May 23, 2000, in Maringá, Paraná. He currently acts as a reserve and test pilot of the Aston Martin team in Formula 1, a position he has occupied since 2022.
Drugovich began his kart career at the age of eight, and in 2014 he moved to Europe to compete in grassroots categories. He won important titles, such as the MRF Challenge in 2017-18, the Spanish Formula 3 Championship and the Euroform Open in 2018, where he won 16 of the 18 races of the season.
In Formula 2, it debuted by 2020 by MP Motorsport, winning three races. After a less significant season in 2021 by Uni-Virtuosi, he returned to MP Motorsport in 2022 and won the title of the category with five wins, becoming the first Brazilian to reach this feat.
After the F2 title, Drugovich was hired by Aston Martin as a development and reserve pilot. Since then, he has participated in several free training sessions and tests, contributing to the development of the team’s car.
