F1 News: Aston Martin Confirm Lance Stroll Italian GP Replacement

Aston Martin confirmed that its official test driver and reserve driver Felipe Drugovich will be driving the AMR23 in FP1 for the Italian Grand Prix as a part of fulfilling the rookie driver mandate. As part of his development for the next stage in motorsports, Drugovich will drive in the 60-minute session instead of F1 driver Lance Stroll at Monza.

The rookie driver rule for this season states that all F1 teams must allow their junior drivers a go in their current F1 cars in the 60-minute FP1 session, who have raced in not more than two Grand Prix.

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23-year-old Drugovich has had his go at several European circuits this year including the Red Bull Ring, Barcelona, and Silverstone. However, that was in the older AMR21 F1 car. According to the team:

"The bespoke programme is designed to equip Felipe with the necessary skills and experience to compete at the highest level of motorsport, aiding his continuous development as a driver."

The upcoming rookie session isn't the Italian-Brazilian driver's first run in the AMR23. When Stroll received treatment for his injured hand and wrists before the current season began, Drugovich was pressed into action as a substitute driver for Stroll during pre-season testing.

An excited Drugovich revealed that he can't wait to get behind the wheel of the AMR23 again after his experience in the simulator which seems to be helping him understand the "real thing." Expressing that this would be an excellent opportunity for him to demonstrate what he's learned, he told Racingnews356.com:

"I can’t wait to get back behind the wheel of the AMR23. The car felt great when I drove it in pre-season testing and it will be fascinating to feel how it has improved since then.

"I’ve spent a lot of time in the simulator helping to develop the car, so understanding how that correlates to the real thing will be super valuable for me too.

"It’s also a fantastic opportunity for me to demonstrate what I’ve learnt through my testing programme. Since Bahrain I’ve done many more miles in an F1 car so I have an even better understanding of how I can deliver valuable feedback for the team."

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