### Lance Stroll Withdraws from Spanish Grand Prix Due to Wrist Pain

Lance Stroll's unexpected exit from the Spanish Grand Prix has been clarified by the FIA, detailing the chain of events surrounding his withdrawal. The Aston Martin driver missed the mandatory weigh-in after being eliminated in the second round of qualifying, which led to a stewards' hearing that he did not attend.

Aston Martin later revealed that Stroll's absence was due to severe pain in his right wrist, an injury sustained in a cycling accident in 2023. The FIA stewards accepted this explanation, but criticized Aston Martin for not informing them of Stroll's condition sooner, issuing a formal warning to the team.

The stewards emphasized the importance of the weigh-in procedures as a critical component of the regulations to ensure fairness in the sport. They noted that failure to adhere to these steps could result in serious penalties, including disqualification. However, penalties were deemed unnecessary in this case due to Stroll's withdrawal from the race.

The FIA acknowledged that Stroll's health and urgent medical needs took precedence, but stressed the need for immediate communication with the relevant FIA delegates in similar future situations. They highlighted that timely information allows appropriate assistance and medical examination to be provided by the FIA team.

Aston Martin had informed the stewards that Stroll was experiencing significant pain after the qualifying session. Consequently, the FIA attempted to summon Stroll to a hearing at 17:45, but he was unable to attend due to his medical condition. The hearing was postponed, and later the team relayed the seriousness of Stroll's condition, leading to his withdrawal from the race.

Despite not being able to attend the hearing, Stroll provided a letter detailing his situation, explaining that the immediate cause for missing the weigh-in was the need to seek urgent medical attention. A medical report affirmed Stroll's condition and advised against his participation in the race, prompting Aston Martin to withdraw his car from the event.

Stroll's past injury history includes surgery on his right wrist in 2023, with residual effects still causing issues. As a result, Aston Martin will only field Fernando Alonso's car in the race, as Stroll's participation in the qualifying prevents any replacement at this stage.