The injured race driver Lance Stroll will be replaced by Aston Martin reserve driver Felipe Drugovich on the opening day of this week’s preseason test.

On Thursday morning in Bahrain, the Formula 2 champion from Brazil will be behind the wheel before Fernando Alonso takes over for the afternoon practice.

The remaining two days’ Aston Martin program has not been made public.

Due to what the team called a “minor” cycling mishap, Stroll will miss the test.

The ensuing Bahrain Grand Prix, which kicks off the 2023 season on March 3-5, may not let the Canadian to compete.

There are two backup drivers available for Aston Martin. The other is Belgian Stoffel Vandoorne, the current Formula E champion and Alonso’s teammate at McLaren in F1 in 2017–18.

Alonso, who will be driving for Aston Martin this season after driving for Alpine, stated at the team’s unveiling last week that the standard one-and-a-half days of testing allotted to each driver would probably result in his not being fully prepared for the start of the season.