Метка: Lance Stroll

The uncomfortable decision facing Lawrence Stroll

Опубликовано от ASPPA IMAGES ANO


You can build the most impressive factory and fill it with all the latest equipment and computer software. Construct the most sophisticated in-house wind tunnel, boosting the potential of your team’s development rate. You can hire the most successful F1 designer of all time, paying him £30 million a year to design your cars.

But it doesn’t matter one bit if the biggest weakness in the whole of the operation is the person responsible for delivering the results on track.

Lance Stroll’s formation lap blunder at the start of the Brazilian Grand Prix was evidence enough that if Aston Martin is deadly serious — as would seem by Lawrence Stroll’s considerable financial investment in the team’s new Silverstone factory — about becoming world champions, then an urgent rethink about its driver line up is required.

Stroll thudded his AMR24 into the Interlagos on the formation lap. Afterwards, in the media pen, he explained how he “had a huge rear lock” and hinted at a “brake failure problem”. Maybe so, and yes, he could also blame the heavy rain, standing water or even the uneven, bumpy surface, which he didn’t.

What is totally inexplicable is not the fact he hit the barriers (as he also did in qualifying), but his bewildering decision to turn his Aston Martin around and drive straight into the gravel, beaching his car so that he would not be able to start the race.

Such an error could be bestowed upon Oliver Bearman or even Franco Colapinto, who have not even raced in a handful of Grands Prix yet. But Stroll, somewhat incredibly in itself, has knocked up 163 starts across eight seasons.

You could even argue that had he even been driving for Sauber and sat at the very back of the grid, yes, it would have been embarrassing but tolerable. But this is Aston Martin. If you believe the hype, potential world champion in the not-too-distant future.

Lance Stroll, Aston Martin F1 Team in the garage

Lance Stroll, Aston Martin F1 Team in the garage

Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images

Stroll sits 13th in the drivers’ championship, having been marooned on 24 points since the Hungarian GP in July when he was 10th. By way of a benchmark, his team-mate Fernando Alonso is on 62 points.

In his inter-team battle with Alonso since the start of 2023, the two-time F1 world champion has outscored the Canadian in 35 races, while Stroll has done the reverse just 10 times.

This is not just a trend with Alonso either. In his first season in F1 with Williams in 2017, Felipe Massa edged the battle 13 to seven. At Force India/Racing Point, Sergio Perez was 26 to 11.

To his credit Stroll, who did win the Italian Formula 4, Toyota Racing Series and European Formula 3 titles to earn his place on the grid, shaded the team-mate battle against Sergey Sirotkin at Williams in 2018 and did in fact beat Sebastian Vettel during their spell as team-mates at Aston Martin, although whether Vettel had checked out or not is a moot point.

There have been flashes of promise. Stroll took his maiden podium at the 2017 Azerbaijan Grand Prix and repeated that feat twice in 2020, at the Italian and the Sakhir GPs. The same year, he took his lone F1 pole at the Turkish GP, which he led for 32 laps. But the reality is the 26-year-old cannot deliver on a regular basis and is still prone to some inexcusable mistakes — as last Sunday proved.

Then there is his attitude to F1. Stroll’s future in the world championship has long been questioned. It was not that long ago that rumours began to surface that he was considering a career in tennis — something that he quickly dismissed as pie in the sky. But there has always been the widely-held suspicion that his heart is not really in it.

Something more unsavoury was his behaviour at the 2023 Qatar GP where, angry at being eliminated from the first qualifying session, Stroll appeared to push his trainer out of the way in frustration. It did at least show some passion and you could use that to argue that he does care about F1.

To his credit, Stroll showed guts to return to race in Bahrain last year just two weeks after breaking his wrist and toe in a cycling accident. Overcoming the pain barrier, he finished sixth. But last year he scored just 74 of Aston Martin’s total of 280 points.

Lance Stroll, Aston Martin AMR23, Lando Norris, McLaren MCL60, Esteban Ocon, Alpine A523

Lance Stroll, Aston Martin AMR23, Lando Norris, McLaren MCL60, Esteban Ocon, Alpine A523

Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images

Yes, he is the owner’s son, but Lawrence Stroll is an accomplished businessman. So how is it possible that he is willing to ignore the glaringly obvious fallible part of the team? Presumably, his focus is on just how the team that started so positively in 2023 has again managed to take steps backwards with its development to limp over the line.

Aston Martin has rolled out the red carpet for Adrian Newey in the hope his designs can bring a revival of fortune. And it is not just Newey who has been signed, with Lawrence Stroll also recruiting other big names such as Enrico Cardile, who will join as Chief Technical Officer from Ferrari. Former Mercedes AMG HPP Managing Director, Andy Cowell, has taken the position of Group CEO, replacing Martin Whitmarsh in an expensive reshuffle.

Scrutiny will be on the aerodynamic design team and just what is going wrong. But there is a more obvious problem and, while it might be an uncomfortable one, it is looking increasingly like Stroll needs to take his son out of the cockpit if the team is to make good on its potential.

In fact, it might not even prove to be that painful a decision in the end and there is an option that could even save face. Aston Martin is entering the 2025 24 Hours of Le Mans Hypercar class with its Valkyrie prototype and Stroll would be well-suited to switch codes and pilot it.

His experience in F1 would be a vital asset in Aston’s fledgling Hypercar project, and provide another perspective currently missing from its stable of GT drivers. It has the potential for considerable success, considering how Ferrari integrated ex-Sauber F1 racer Antonio Giovinazzi into its successful Le Mans project with the 499P LMH.

So who could Aston replace him with? It appears to have missed out on the glut of young talent that has surfaced this season with Bearman, Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Colapinto all signed to long-term deals. The team is also poised to miss out on Formula 2 championship leader, Gabriel Bortoleto, who is set to join Sauber next season.

Aston’s current reserve drivers are 2022 F2 champion Felipe Drugovich and Formula E champion Stoffel Vandoorne, both easily capable of filling Stroll’s place in the team. Another option could be Yuki Tsunoda, given that Honda will become Aston’s engine partner in 2026 and the Japanese driver’s chances seem limited at Red Bull.

Lance Stroll, Aston Martin AMR24

Lance Stroll, Aston Martin AMR24

Photo by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images



Source link

No point in talking to unapologetic Stroll over F1 China clash

Опубликовано от ASPPA IMAGES ANO


Stroll ran into Ricciardo under the safety car in Shanghai, which ended Ricciardo’s chance of scoring his first points of the 2024 season with RB.

Ricciardo was incensed by the incident, especially after it became clear that Stroll ducked responsibility for the incident and blamed drivers ahead, saying it made his «blood boil».

The Australian revealed in Miami that he and Stroll still hadn’t cleared the air, but suggested there would be no point in doing so if Stroll still felt he was blameless for the contact.

«I would say no, because I feel it’s not going to go anywhere,» Ricciardo replied when asked if he wanted to speak with the Canadian.

«I can accept an apology, I’m not that much of an asshole. But the fact that there’s not even that… He clearly doesn’t think he did anything wrong. So I guess there’s not much to say.

«Obviously, if we sit next to each other in the drivers’ briefing and he wants to chat, I’m not going to ignore him or anything.»

Daniel Ricciardo, VCARB 01, Nico Hulkenberg, Haas VF-24, Lance Stroll, Aston Martin AMR24, and the remainder of the field

Daniel Ricciardo, VCARB 01, Nico Hulkenberg, Haas VF-24, Lance Stroll, Aston Martin AMR24, and the remainder of the field

Photo by: Mark Sutton

Ricciardo explained that in previous incidents he always made a point of clearing the air with his rivals, even if he wasn’t fully convinced he was in the wrong, just to avoid other drivers painting a target on his back.

«When I was younger, maybe I was more stubborn, didn’t always apologise for something that was my fault,» he said.

Read Also:

«But the last few years, if I take someone out or even if it’s 50/50, I’ll still say: ‘Look, maybe I could have done better, so sorry for ruining our day.’ I’ll just text them clear the air a little bit.

«We’re all rivals, but you don’t want to have a target and you don’t need enemies. I’m not going as far as saying he is an enemy or anything. It’s an incident and we’ll move on.

«But you don’t obviously want to get what you’re giving. In that position, if I didn’t see him in person I would at least say: ‘Hey man sorry, I was looking somewhere else, or you braked really hard and caught me off guard.’ Whatever, just something.

«But yeah, it’s fine. Obviously we’re talking about it, but I have certainly moved on.»

Stroll ducked questions about the incident in Miami, and when asked if he attempted to reach out to Ricciardo, he said: «Not for this room. Those things are done behind closed doors.»



Source link

Stroll penalty «very harsh» after F1 China «chain reaction»

Опубликовано от ASPPA IMAGES ANO


Stroll hit Ricciardo under the safety car as the field bunched up in the penultimate corner for a lap 27 restart.

The stewards wholly blamed Stroll for not taking more care to avoid the contact and handed him a 10-second penalty and two penalty points, which Stroll felt was «a joke».

His team boss Krack backed the Canadian and questioned why such a snap verdict was issued soon after the incident.

«A very, very quick verdict without really understanding… I thought it was very, very fast and very harsh, very quick decision,» Krack said when Autosport quizzed him about the punishment.

«I think it was a chain reaction at the end of the day. You saw Fernando [Alonso] locking and another car behind and I think everybody was a little bit caught out there.

«I would have liked that this would have been looked at in a little bit more detailed way. We tried to discuss it, but the verdict was very quickly that Lance was to blame. And he got a 10-second penalty, additional to the front wing damage.»

Mike Krack, Team Principal, Aston Martin F1 Team

Mike Krack, Team Principal, Aston Martin F1 Team

Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images

Ricciardo was particularly frustrated with Stroll ducking responsibility for the clash despite pointing out the Aston driver was looking at the apex of Turn 14 rather than what was happening ahead of him.

«These situations are created in the front,» Krack responded. «Now, you can always say, you need to be more careful.

«But, on the other hand, if you’re too careful, and you have the restart and you lose more than one car length — everybody says ‘are you asleep?’

«Things like that happen at different tracks. You remember the incident we had in Mugello [at the 2020 Tuscan GP], where there were a lot of cars involved.

«This is always the erratic movement that happens on a safety car restart. And we have some of these every year and will continue to.»



Source link

Stroll explains why F1 China penalty for Ricciardo contact felt like «a joke»

Опубликовано от ASPPA IMAGES ANO


With the field bunching up before the hairpin as the race was restarted on Lap 27, Stroll went into the back of Ricciardo, lifting the RB car up in the air and causing terminal damage to the Australian’s car.
Ricciardo was pushed into McLaren driver Oscar Piastri, who also sustained damage that compromised the rest of his race.

The stewards swiftly exacted judgment on the incident, fully attributing blame to Stroll. The Canadian received a 10-second penalty and two penalty points, bringing his tally up to seven for the past 12 months.

«We determined that Car 18 ought to have anticipated the pace of the cars in front, particularly Car 3 and should have prepared to brake accordingly,» the FIA race stewards judged.

«Had it done that, it would have avoided the collision. Hence Car 18 was predominantly to blame for the collision that ultimately led to Car 3 having to retire from the race.»

Stroll’s actions were also slammed by Ricciardo, who said the Canadian’s lack of responsibility «made my blood boil».

But Stroll said he felt the stewards should have taken into account that the field bunched up very quickly, which ended up being caused by his team-mate Fernando Alonso locking up his front tyres.
Lance Stroll, Aston Martin AMR24

Lance Stroll, Aston Martin AMR24

Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images

«I think it’s just because of the fact that I hit the guy,» Stroll said when asked by Autosport why he said the penalty was a joke on his team radio.

«I got a penalty because of the end result that I hit Ricciardo, but it’s not like everything was normal and I just slammed into the back of him.

«There was a really odd concertina effect that I would have liked to see the stewards take into consideration maybe a little bit more.

«Someone braked at the front of the pack and then everyone stops. The car in front of me just stopped from like 60 to zero. It was one of those stupid incidents.

«I was in his gearbox and ready for the restart, and just very unlucky. We were having a good race so then so it’s a shame.»

Stroll said he was otherwise on for a decent result as Aston is still finding it hard to compete with McLaren, Ferrari and Mercedes.

Alonso finished seventh after trying to make a three-stop work, but his progress through the field in the final stint halted when he got up to seventh.

Daniel Ricciardo, RB F1 Team VCARB 01

Daniel Ricciardo, RB F1 Team VCARB 01

Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images

«We were on for eighth or ninth, so pretty normal for where the car is,» Stroll said.

«We’re not bad, we’re making progress. We seem to bit stronger on a Saturday than a Sunday.

«We have to keep bringing upgrades and trying to get a little bit quicker every weekend, but we can fight.»



Source link

Stroll’s top speed radio rant triggered by F1 tyre offset, says Aston Martin

Опубликовано от ASPPA IMAGES ANO


Stroll found himself having to battle through the field at Suzuka after a disappointing qualifying performance had left him down in 16th on the grid.

He did manage to make progress, eventually finishing 12th in the race at Suzuka but, in the closing stages, as he fought the RB of Yuki Tsunoda, he voiced his frustration at the rate his Japanese rival was pulling away on the straights.

«It’s unbelievable how bad our speed is on the straight, man,» declared Stroll. «It’s like a different category!»

The manner of his message reminded many of the famous ‘GP2 engine’ radio outburst that his Aston Martin team-mate Fernando Alonso launched at the 2015 Japanese Grand Prix against Honda.

But, rather than Stroll’s outburst being a reference to a lack of straightline performance from Aston Martin, which has worked a lot in improving its aero efficiency since last year, the reality of what he was experiencing was quite different.

Team principal Mike Krack revealed after the race that he had looked into the circumstances surrounding Stroll’s complaint and found that it was actually nothing to do with the Canadian’s Aston Martin lacking top speed through either too much drag or not enough engine power.

Instead, he said it was an illusion that had been caused by rivals around him having better tyres, which gave them much greater traction out of corners so they could accelerate and reach top speed earlier.

Lance Stroll, Aston Martin AMR24

Lance Stroll, Aston Martin AMR24

Photo by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Images

«This is something I have looked at actually,» said Krack when asked by Autosport about what was happening with Stroll.

«What you see across the field is that there are very small differences in terms of straightline performance. But what you have is that at different times of the race, there are different tyre conditions, and the acceleration out of the corners is a different one.

«I think a lot of these comments come from such situations.

«If you look at the power-limited data, you see that all the cars are very, very similar. But the tyre conditions at various times of the race, you are offset by 10-12-15 laps of tyres, and then you accelerate completely differently.»

Speed trap figures from the Japanese GP show there were only very small differences between Stroll and Tsunoda.

At the sector two speed trap, which is on the run down to 130R, Tsunoda’s top speed in the race was registered at 304.8km/h, while Stroll logged 303.4km/h.



Source link