It’s not going well for Lance Stroll this season, but everything that’s happened so far is now ‘in the past’. Instead, the Quebecer has his eyes riveted on what’s to come: his first home race in three years.
Posted at 8:04 p.m.
Updated at 8:35 p.m.
The pilots repeat it year after year: there is nothing more special than a race in his native country. Lance Stroll was deprived of his in 2020 and 2021. But he will finally return to the Gilles-Villeneuve circuit on Friday, during free practice.
“It’s always special to see the Canadian flags, the big stands, the locals cheering you on… It’s an incredible feeling. It gives energy. It’s even more special to celebrate in Montreal when I have a good result, “said the 23-year-old pilot with, as a background noise, the rain which fell head-on on Notre Island. -Lady, Thursday late afternoon.
As has been the case since the start of the campaign, Stroll will be fighting for a place in the top 10 this week-end. In eight races so far, he couldn’t do better than two 10sare places, and his meager collection of two points places him in 17e rank in the driver classification. In fact, his last point dates back to May 8. But contrary to what one might think, he is not discouraged.
If you get discouraged after a month, you’re in the wrong sport. F1 is like that. My focus is on this weekend. I have ideas of why it wasn’t perfect the last few weekends. We will focus on what is coming and do the best we can.
Lance Stroll
Stroll finished in the points with two 9sare places in two of his three career races on Canadian soil. The Gilles-Villeneuve circuit, with its bends and curbs, represents a challenge for the young driver that he “always liked”, he says.
“There may be some rain tomorrow and Saturday, so a lot can happen. I have good memories of this track, and it feels good to find it again. »
The potential is there
At the start of the season, Stroll told Canadian media that the new regulations were “shit”. Again on Thursday, he reiterated that the cars were “much stiffer and heavier” than last year. Aston Martin, however, made changes to its car in the first half of the season.
“We’re definitely heading in the right direction,” Stroll said. It gives us more opportunities to improve the car on different types of tracks. […] We were very competitive in a few outings like Miami and Imola, we were in a position to score points and fight for the top 10. In other tracks, we were really far. We were very competitive in Baku and Monaco. They are two very different tracks, so I think that’s encouraging for the whole team. »
Photo Olivier Jean, THE PRESS
Lance Stroll
Everyone is in the same boat. It was an adaptation for several drivers and teams. We learn every weekend and we have good ideas for the future.
Lance Stroll
Still, the son of billionaire Lawrence Stroll has been well ahead of his teammate, Sebastian Vettel, in the last three races. The ex-world champion has 13 points in six races – he missed the first two due to COVID-19. He also managed a sixth place last weekend, in Baku.
“That’s what you want in a teammate: someone who pushes you to be better,” Stroll said. You have to push each other to bring out the best in the car and help the team develop in the best possible way. »
Asked if there was a way for him to draw inspiration from his teammate’s driving, the Quebecer could not have been clearer: “He drives the car the way he drives it, and I have ideas of what I want to do with the car. I can drive it any way I want. I focus on that. »
It remains to be seen, now, where it will take him on Sunday.