Aston Martin driver Lance Stroll emerged unscathed after a dramatic crash during Free Practice 2 at the Dutch Grand Prix in Zandvoort on Friday. The incident, which occurred at the high-speed Turn 3, caused significant damage to Stroll’s AMR25 and brought out a red flag, halting the session early.
The crash unfolded as Stroll approached the banked left-hander at Turn 3. Carrying substantial speed, he appeared to lock up his front left wheel, causing the car to veer off line and into the barriers. The impact was severe, with the right side of the car crumpled and both right-hand tyres detached.
Despite the violent nature of the crash, Stroll was able to radio his team immediately, stating, “I’m fine,” to reassure his engineers.
The severity of the crash raised concerns due to Stroll’s history with wrist injuries. In June, he underwent surgery to address issues stemming from a previous bicycling accident.
However, following the incident in Zandvoort, Stroll provided a positive update on his condition. “Yeah, just a little lock-up,” he explained. “And then from there, I was just a passenger. So, just one of those things.” He further confirmed that his wrists were “all good,” alleviating fears of a recurrence of his earlier injuries.
The crash necessitated significant repairs to the AMR25. Initial assessments suggested that the car’s chassis might require a full replacement, along with potential changes to the gearbox and survival cell. The team faced a formidable challenge to prepare the car for the remainder of the weekend.
Despite the setback, Aston Martin showed promising performance during the practice sessions. Fernando Alonso, Stroll’s teammate, finished second in FP2, just 0.087 seconds behind Lando Norris, who led both practice sessions.
Alonso’s strong performance, coupled with Stroll’s earlier third-place finish in FP1, indicated that the team had a competitive package for the weekend.
The Dutch Grand Prix weekend has been marked by several incidents. In addition to Stroll’s crash, Alexander Albon also suffered a crash in FP2, leading to a second red flag. Other drivers, including Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton, experienced off-track excursions, highlighting the challenging nature of the Zandvoort circuit.