Ryan Smart
A Formula 1 team has been forced to respond to claims that their driver 'smashed items' in his garage amid a furious meltdown during the Spanish Grand Prix weekend.
The race at the Circuit de Catalunya was won by McLaren's Oscar Piastri, who finished ahead of team-mate Lando Norris and Ferrari's Charles Leclerc.
George Russell finished fourth, with the side of his Mercedes having been rammed by Max Verstappen's Red Bull in the closing laps - an incident which saw Verstappen receive a 10-second penalty and three penalty points.
Only 19 drivers started the race, with Lance Stroll forced to withdraw shortly after qualifying on Saturday.
His Aston Martin team later confirmed in a statement that Stroll had been 'experiencing pain in his hand and wrist', which is believed to be related to an operation he had before the start of the 2023 season after he broke both wrists in a cycling accident.
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The team added that the Canadian will undergo surgery, and hopes to return for his home race in Montreal in two weeks' time.
According to F1 journalist Julianne Cerasoli, reserve driver Felipe Drugovich would be available to replace Stroll if he is unable to race, despite having committed to compete in the Le Mans 24 Hours on the same weekend.
A report by BBC Sport claimed that Stroll had 'damaged equipment in the garage' after qualifying on Saturday and 'swore at team members', according to sources.
The Canadian was eliminated in the second session of qualifying and would have started the race 14th.
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He was subsequently warned by the FIA after breaching a strict rule, with Stroll not getting weighed immediately after the session as per the regulations.
However, in relation to the alleged incidents in the garage, an Aston Martin spokesperson has stated that Stroll was 'upset' but that he did not smash items in the garage or swear at team members.
SPORTbible have also contacted Aston Martin for comment.
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When interviewed by media after the Grand Prix, team principal Mike Krack also denied that Stroll's actions had led in any way to his wrist issues.
He said: "No, no. First of all, I was on the pit wall and I have not heard anything. I think this is typical [stories]."