Aston Martin was the undeniable dark horse of the 2023 Formula 1 season. After a disappointing 2022 season where the Silverstone-based team seemed to lack an out-and-out pace, they couldn’t have started this year on a better note. A testament to this fact is Alonso’s three-podium run during the first three races of the season. But as the season has progressed the team has seemingly dropped the developmental ball. As a result, they have slipped into the midfield. Rumors have started floating that Lawrence Stroll is fed up and willing to sell the team for an estimated $800,000,000 to the Saudi state fund. But as per F1-insider.com, the Canadian mogul has nipped this discussion in the bud.
Up until the ‘flexi-wing’ clampdown by the FIA, Aston Martin was soaring high. However, ever since the technical directive came in to stop the teams from exploiting the rules, Aston Martin has been struggling. As a result, that elusive 33rd win that seemed like it was in the bag for Alonso has now once again become a distant dream.
Aston Martin’s performance Dip: Car upgrades or FIA’s flexi-wing clampdown? pic.twitter.com/M3xitQxSpx
— F1News.live (@f1newslive_) August 11, 2023
The rumors of Stroll Sr. wanting to offload the team have been floating off the question marks surrounding his son’s motivation. The 24-year-old Canadian driver seems to have fallen out of love with the sport. Naturally, his father, too, isn’t going to be interested in funding his career anymore.
Lawrence Stroll rubbishes Aston Martin ‘For Sale’ claims
Lawrence Stroll was pretty adamant that Aston Martin, despite its recent struggles, was not up for sale. He declared, “That is not planned at the moment. However, we were approached. Formula 1 is a sport and a business that is on fire.”
While Stroll Jr. seemingly doesn’t want to fight in F1 anymore, the team had a handy negotiator waiting in the wings. That’s right, Aramco who happen to be the team’s title sponsors and Saudi Arabia’s national oil company, were touted to spearhead the deal between Stroll and the Saudi state fund.
📰: Paddock Insider denies Lawrence Stroll’s $800m Aston Martin sale. Rumors swirl about Saudi fund interest, but Stroll’s team says, ‘Nothing is planned.’ F1’s focus on Andretti’s potential entry stirs grid debate. #F1 #QatarGP pic.twitter.com/aA1ea882Yz
— F1 Naija (@f1_naija) October 7, 2023
Adding to Stroll’s words, a team spokesperson explained why with the current state that the sport is in, Stroll will not be expected to walk away anytime soon. The unnamed insider was quoted as saying, “Lawrence has made it clear that a sale is out of the question. The sport is more popular than ever. And the value of the teams is constantly increasing. Nothing is planned.”
Not Lawrence but Lance Stroll tipped to ditch Formula 1
Lance Stroll has been having a torrid time off late in the AMR23. Strapped into equal machinery alongside 2x champion, Fernando Alonso, the young Canadian is finding it hard to extract as much as his teammate. Alonso currently sits in 4th with 175 points. Meanwhile, Stroll languishes in 10th with just 47 points to his name.
But with Stroll being tipped to leave the sport, no one could be happier than his mother. After his terrifying crash at the Singapore GP Quali session, Claire-Anne Stroll is adamant that her son hang up his racing helmet.
On the other hand, Lawrence Stroll has shown that he wants to stay in F1 for the long haul with his concerns for the wider interests of the sport. While speaking of the future and Andretti, he said, “I’m a strong believer that it’s working really well with 10 teams right now and believe that’s the way it should stay.”
