The recovery process for Lance Stroll following his cycling injury which he picked up while preparing for the upcoming season in Spain has been kept a secret so far by both parties.
The reports suggest that the Canadian has broken both of his wrists as a result of the cycling accident, but these claims are yet to be confirmed.
Formula 2 champion Felipe Drugovich has been standing in for Stroll during Aston Martin’s pre-season testing in Bahrain, with the Brazilian reportedly also on standby to take part in the Bahrain Grand Prix if he is needed.
The latest reports have claimed that Stroll will certainly not be fit in time for the Bahrain Grand Prix, with the race in Saudi Arabia two weeks later being the target for the 24-year-old.
READ: Toto Wolff makes Mercedes admission that will alarm Max Verstappen
Despite the reports ruling him out of the season opener, Stroll has reportedly visited a specialist doctor this week, with the aim of fast tracking his recovery.
“As we understand it, he has been to see Dr. Mir in Spain, who is one of if not the pre-eminent hand, wrist and arms specialists in the world,” Will Buxton told F1TV.
“He’s the man who all the MotoGP riders go to when they have all those horrible injuries and are back on the bile in three days.
“Always when a team closes ranks and doesn’t give information, it leads to rumours and talk. We still don’t know what the exact situation with Lance Stroll is.
READ: Pierre Gasly: ‘I literally don’t look at Fernando Alonso’
“Although the team need to confirm or deny, Lance has seen him and will be back in the simulator this weekend to see whether or not the wrists have the strength to allow him to come back.”
With all the reports circling the Stroll situation suggesting that the Canadian is unlikely to recover in time for the Bahrain Grand Prix, an official statement is expected from Aston Martin early next week.
Should Stroll be unable to compete in the first round of the season, it will be the second season in a row that Aston Martin have started the season without one of their drivers.