Lance Stroll was overshadowed by Fernando Alonso for yet another weekend. The Canadian finished the race 9th while his teammate achieved 2nd place. However, the Aston Martin team principal feels Stroll did a decent job.
Stroll has managed average results so far. But the Spaniard’s podiums make it seem like the 24-year-old is struggling. Fans expect the Canadian to achieve podiums and step up to Alonso.
Even his father and team owner, Lawrence Stroll predicted his son to be on the Canadian GP podium. But the driver’s failure to maximize his car’s potential has centered the debate around nepotism.
Mike Krack provides words of consolation to struggling Lance Stroll
Lance Stroll started the 2023 Canadian GP in P16 and finished the race P9, thanks to a finish line overtake on Valtteri Bottas. Compared to Fernando Alonso’s P2, the result does not look impressive. But Aston Martin team principal Mike Krack believes the driver displayed.
Krack claims the Canadian was unfortunate with the oncoming rain. Stroll managed to pull some good overtakes despite being stuck in a DRS train, which the team boss believes is a great achievement.
Mere inches in it! 🤏
Lance Stroll and Valtteri Bottas did not hold back in their epic race to the finish line! 🤯#CanadianGP #F1 @AstonMartinF1 @alfaromeostake pic.twitter.com/EinJreI8OC
— Formula 1 (@F1) June 19, 2023
He believes Stroll will take the lesson learned in Canada and certainly improve in the coming races. The Aston Martin boss claims the driver will excel in the highspeed tracks F1 heads to in the coming weeks. In the meantime, questions are being raised about the driver’s future in the team.
Will Lawrence Stroll replace his son at Aston Martin?
Recently critics have slammed Lance Stroll for costing Aston Martin 2nd place in the constructor’s standings. Despite Fernando Alonso’s 6 podiums, the Silverstone-based team has been overtaken by Mercedes.
Stroll’s inconsistencies and inability to achieve podiums like Alonso has been blamed. Pundits have even pushed team owner Lawrence Stroll to replace his son from the Aston Martin seat if the team wants to fight for the title.
Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc has been touted as a replacement for the Canadian. Leclerc has expressed his frustration with Ferrari’s poor start to the season. The Monegasque’s contract expires at the end of the 2024 season.
However, Papa Stroll continues to remain confident of his son. The Canadian billionaire claims his son needed some time to adapt to the AMR23 after coming off a nasty bike riding injury.
However, Stroll will need to pull his socks up soon. A few more bad results could cost Aston a desirable P2 finish in the championship. And the Canadian could come under fire from Honda, who would be looking for a stronger driver lineup ahead of their entry in 2026.
