Aston Martin may consider a seasoned Formula 1 star to team up with Fernando Alonso for the Canadian Grand Prix, as Montreal's own Lance Stroll battles against time to be fit for his home race.

Stroll pulled out of Sunday's Spanish Grand Prix on the eve of the race, citing persistent pain in his hand and wrist. Aston Martin revealed that he had been experiencing discomfort for approximately six weeks, implying that he had competed in the Saudi Arabian, Miami, Emilia Romagna, and Monaco Grands Prix despite the problem.

The Canadian driver is no stranger to this type of pain - he missed the pre-season in 2023 after undergoing surgery following a cycling accident while training in Spain. He sustained a broken wrist and toe but astonishingly, just over two weeks later, he raced at the Bahrain Grand Prix and finished in an impressive sixth place.

However, it's possible that the swift recovery period he underwent then, in order not to miss the start of that season, may have led to this resurgence of pain. The team stated his issue was "related to the procedure he underwent in 2023", without providing further details.

An Aston Martin spokesperson declined to comment on Stroll's personal medical situation. However, claim that the surgery he missed the Barcelona race for has been successfully performed by Dr Xavier Mir and his team - the same expert who treated him two years ago.

Aston Martin's chief trackside officer, Mike Krack, has stated that their 'Plan A' is for Stroll to compete at the Canadian Grand Prix, a week on Sunday. If he is unable to do so, they will need to devise an alternative plan - though the timing makes this process slightly more complicated than usual.

The Montreal F1 race coincides with another significant motorsport event, the renowned 24 Hours of Le Mans. Aston Martin's reserve drivers - Felipe Drugovich and Stoffel Vandoorne - are both scheduled to participate in the latter, representing Peugeot and Cadillac respectively.

If necessary, Aston Martin have the authority to withdraw either of them from Le Mans to race in Canada. Drugovich, in particular, may not require much persuasion, as he has been eagerly awaiting his first opportunity to race an F1 car, having been sidelined since winning the 2022 Formula 2 title.

However, they are not Aston Martin's only options. As a current Mercedes engine customer, they also have access to their pool of reserve drivers, including Valtteri Bottas, who has made himself available for all 24 F1 races this year in the hope that it might provide him with the opportunity to race and audition for a permanent 2026 seat elsewhere.

Aston Martin is keen not to hasten Stroll's return and provoke another setback or make a hasty decision regarding their driver line-up for Montreal. "We wait to see what the next days are bringing and then we take a decision," Krack disclosed.