Racing Point F1 Detail Lance Stroll’s Suffering Prior to the Eifel Grand Prix

There was a sudden sense of anxiety at the Racing Point camp on Saturday as driver Lance Stroll was suddenly taken ill under mysterious circumstances.

Eventually, the team called upon Nico Hulkenberg to race in his stead; fortunately, he was close by to reach the track in time for the qualifying session.

The nature and extent of Stroll’s illness was previously unknown; however, Racing Point Team Principal Otmar Szafnauer has moved to clarify what exactly ails the young Canadian.

Lance Stroll suffered a stomach bug which caused him to be unwell

Lance Stroll had a major stomach upset, which forced him to stay out of Saturday’s events. However, from the looks of it, he could be fit for the next race in Portimao.

Otmar Szafnauer was quoted as saying, “We’ve tested him multiple times, including the pre-event test for this race. And he’s come back negative three or four times. He doesn’t have the classic COVID-19 symptoms, he just doesn’t feel well in himself.

“And last night he had a bit of an upset stomach. So he was on the toilet the whole time. And he said, ‘I’ve got rid of a lot of fluid, and I can’t get off the toilet for long enough to get in the race car.’

“Thirty minutes before FP3. He [Stroll] was still thinking, ‘I want to do this.’ But then he thought, ‘Well, if I don’t get better, then I’ve got to qualify, and then I’ve got to race.’ And it’s the race that he wasn’t really looking forward to, in the state that he was in.

“I don’t know if it’s something he ate, or if it’s a tummy bug. He just said, ‘I’m just not feeling up to it. We’re going to have a double-header coming up soon. And I’d rather rest and get ready for that.’

Lance Stroll’s absence will now see the points scoring burden fall on teammate

Sergio Perez. It could potentially give the McLaren and Renault cars an advantage in the fight for third place.

Racing Point will fight but might lose out on points

With Nico Hulkenberg qualifying at P20, there is almost no chance for him to be back among the points. So as a result, Sergio Perez who starts in P9 will need to deliver as better a finish as possible.

Ahead of the Eifel GP, Racing Point were comfortable in third on the table with 106 points, while McLaren are in fourth with 104 points. They are closely followed by Renault with 99 points.

Considering both Renault drivers Daniel Ricciardo and Esteban Ocon have secured good grid positions, one can expect them to do well in the race. However, at the Nurburgring, rains and strong winds can always influence the flow of the race.