Fellow F1 drivers quietly question Lance Stroll’s ‘passion’ for the sport
Photo by Wan Mikhail Roslan/NurPhoto via Getty Images Lance Stroll’s commitment to Formula 1 has reportedly come under fire from some of his peers, despite him nearing the milestone of 200 Grand Prix entries. With his father, Lawrence, owning the Aston Martin F1 team, Stroll’s seat is largely secure. Over his career, he has picked up 325 points along with a pole position and a podium finish.
While those numbers aren’t spectacular over eight years, it still feels unfair to put him in the same bracket as some of the pay drivers from previous eras. Stroll made his debut with Williams back in 2017 before joining Racing Point – which would later become Aston Martin – following his father’s investment in 2019. Over the last three seasons, Stroll has struggled against teammate Fernando Alonso.
He currently trails Alonso by two points in this year’s standings but hasn’t managed to outqualify him since the start of their partnership. Lance Stroll Reportedly the ‘Least Popular’ Driver Among Peers According to Sport Bild , Stroll has been viewed as the ‘least popular’ driver on the grid for some time now. The general view among his peers is that he lacks both the passion and ability required to hold down a spot in F1.
Some within the paddock believe his presence in F1 is due more to his father’s financial backing than racing merit. Despite winning three single-seater titles before reaching Formula 1, George Russell once claimed that Stroll benefited from team orders during those campaigns. This season isn’t helping his case either.
Aston Martin have struggled with pace, and Stroll is yet to finish a race, leaving him at the bottom of the standings. His contract runs out at the end of this year, but any decision on whether he continues will likely be his own. He did take part in a GT3 race over the break, but there’s no clear sign that he’s considering a switch away from Formula 1.