Formula 1: Which driver was missing from the preseason photo?

Like last year, there was one driver absent from the Formula 1 preseason photo at Bahrain International Circuit, this time due to an injury.

A Formula 1 preseason photo was taken at Bahrain International Circuit this past week, featuring the cars of all 10 teams on the grid along with each team’s drivers.

However, just like last year, there were only 19 drivers present for this photo instead of all 20. This year’s absence came at Aston Martin, where only two-time Formula 1 world champion Fernando Alonso stood alongside the team’s AMR23 challenger.

Lance Stroll was absent as a result of the fact that he had recently been involved in a cycling accident, which caused him to miss preseason testing. He is set to return for this Sunday’s season opener at the 15-turn, 3.363-mile (5.412-kilometer) road course in Sakhir, Bahrain.

He has since confirmed that he fell off his bike and broke his right wrist. He underwent surgery, which he described as a “small procedure”, and stated that while his left wrist was also “banged up”, the right wrist was the only one that was broken. He added that “it was just physiotherapy and rehab to get me [back] here”.

Here’s the Formula 1 preseason photo, featuring everybody except Lance Stroll.

https://twitter.com/SportskeedaF1/status/1631476835686187008

Last year, the preseason photo also featured only 19 drivers, with the absence coming at McLaren. Only Lando Norris stood alongside their MCL36 challenger. Daniel Ricciardo was absent as he battled an illness, but he returned for the season opener, continuing his consecutive starts streak.

That streak is now at 232, good for second place on the all-time list, but is set to end in this year’s season opener, as Ricciardo has been replaced by Oscar Piastri at the Woking-based team.

The 2023 Formula 1 season is scheduled to get underway this Sunday with the Bahrain Grand Prix at Bahrain International Circuit. ESPN is set to broadcast the race live beginning at 10:00 a.m. ET, so start a free trial of FuboTV now and don’t miss it!