Canadian Grand Prix | Lance Stroll, not yet master at home

Last January 31, at the Bell Centre, Lance Stroll appeared on the giant screen during a stoppage in play. Smiling, he waved to the crowd. And this one, rather than applauding him, answered him with… almost total indifference.

We can assume that the reception would have been much warmer for Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, Félix Auger-Aliassime or Justine Dufour-Lapointe, for example. So many athletes who enjoy a strong reputation among the Quebec public.

Stroll, however, belongs to the world’s motorsport elite. Only 20 pilots have a wheel in Formula 1. It is therefore singular that a native of Montreal expressing himself very well in French arouses so little enthusiasm in a province with a long tradition of F1. Especially when you know that the last Quebecer to have reached this level, Jacques Villeneuve, was a superstar a quarter of a century ago.

When The Press presented this observation to François Dumontier, the promoter of the Canadian Grand Prix did not refute it. Although he will be racing this weekend in his home town and the Aston Martin team is having a good start to the season, Stroll is far from being the main face of the event.

“At the very start of his career, he didn’t really know how to react with the public and the media,” Dumontier said during a short interview last Wednesday. I also think that the arrival of Fernando Alonso will help him. I already feel more at ease since the beginning of the year. He deserves to be known. He’s a good guy, very friendly. »

As if to prove him right, Stroll appeared completely at ease during his 20-minute meeting with media representatives on Thursday at the Grand Prix site. He even seemed more relaxed during the French segment, despite it not being his first language. He’s not a monster of interpersonal skills, but you have to start somewhere…

His media presence, however, is somewhat a reflection of the relationship he shares with the public. For request of The Press, the firm Influence Communication has listed the mentions of Stroll in the local media, both French and English, over the past 24 months. By comparing him to a list of some 150 other athletes from Quebec, Canada or evolving in the province (for example the players of the Montreal Canadiens), he is certainly positioned in the upper third, but far from the head.

In 2021-2022, for example, he took the 27^e position in a list dominated by CH players. Tennis player Félix Auger-Aliassime still got almost double the mentions. In 2022-2023, it climbs to 18^e level, but remains behind Denis Shapovalov and Bianca Andreescu, who are not Quebecers. During the same period, he received attention similar to that received by Carey Price… who has not played for two years.

father’s aura

During a casual conversation on Thursday, Pierre Houde, voice of F1 at RDS, noted that the interest of motor racing fans had changed over the years. Those he met at the end of the 90s only had it for Jacques Villeneuve, while those of today talk to him more about the championship and its intrigues.

François Dumontier also wonders if the image of the daddy’s boy that sticks to his skin does not harm his popularity. Billionaire Lawrence Stroll is, in fact, the owner of the stable that employs Lance.

Some European media never miss an opportunity to recall this fact, despite the rider’s successes this season and the qualities of a rider recognized by his peers. His powerful starts and his driving in the rain, for example.

The aura of the father, however, is never far away. On Thursday, Stroll was asked to comment on two statements from his father. A first arguing that the young man can reach the level of performance of Fernando Alonso this season; a second expressing the wish that the two Aston Martin drivers get on the podium in Montreal.

“Are you tired of people talking to you about your father?” “, he was asked jokingly. “It’s part of the fun” of the exercise, he replied with a smile.

On several occasions, the 24-year-old runner repeated that he was doing his little thing. Often after the evocation of the influence of Alonso, in fact. The friendship and collaborative relationship that has developed between the two was a constant topic of conversation on Thursday.

Does he look forward to being considered for what he himself can bring, regardless of his dad or teammate? “I don’t dwell on it too much,” he said. I do what I know how to do. That day will come, I imagine. »

praise

Besides, Stroll got all sorts of compliments. In particular his team manager Mike Krack, who praised his fighting spirit.

The Montrealer started the season just days after suffering a serious cycling accident. Wrist injuries required surgery. He was thus deprived of multiple pre-season test sessions, which did not prevent him from finishing sixth in Bahrain, as a curtain raiser. A feat “that has not been noticed enough,” argued Mr. Krack.

Stroll should not be viewed as a finished product, he insists, even though he is in his seventh campaign. “Each runner has his own progression curve and, generally, no one is a champion in his first year, noted the engineer. F1 is an unfair environment where drivers are categorized quickly. There are several factors to consider. I don’t believe Lance drove a performance car for long [avant cette année]. »

He, too, got excited about the relationship Stroll and Alonso share. This cohesion rubs off on the whole team. “We’re lucky they get along so well. »

Alonso, during a press briefing organized by the FIA, assured that his young teammate has everything it takes to move up the ladder. “When you start the year with broken wrists, you can see that it takes passion to do what we do,” said the 41-year-old veteran. I think the most important thing for him is to find consistency. We have seen him do incredible things, but sometimes the results have not followed. »

And to conclude: “With his commitment and his motivation, and with what the team is building, it is a matter of time before success comes. »

Will he come as soon as this Sunday in Montreal? If so, Father Stroll’s prophecy will come true, which would not help dissociate his name from that of his son.

On this one, we imagine all the same that Lance would not complain too much.