With the 2022 Formula 3 season finished, we look back at Lance Stroll’s dominant and underappreciated 2016 title-winning season.
Lance Stroll has endured a tricky six seasons during his time in Formula 1. Having made his debut in 2017, the twenty-four-year-old Canadian spent two seasons at Williams before moving to Racing Point, now known as Aston Martin. During those six years, he has picked up three podiums and a pole position despite racing for back-marker teams. Stroll has shown glimpses in 2022 of his former self when he stormed to the 2016 Formula 3 European Championship.
Stroll’s Domination
In 2010, Stroll became a member of the Ferrari Drivers Academy and would go on to represent them through the 2016 season. After winning the 2014 Italian Formula 4 Championship racing for PREMA, Stroll drove for the team during his two seasons in Formula 3.
In 2015, Stroll moved up to the Formula 3 European Championship, finishing eighth, taking one win and six podiums. He was retained for the 2016 season where he would go on to race future Formula 1 stars Lando Norris, George Russell, and Zhou Guanyu.
Stroll dominated the season picking up 14 wins (five consecutively) and 20 podiums across the thirty-race championship. Taking the title by over 187 points from teammate Maximillian Gunter.
During the 2016 season finale, current @F1 driver @lance_stroll was the last @fiaf3europe Championship participant to date score three wins in one weekend. Now, @SchumacherMick of @PREMA_Team @TheodoreRacing1 achieved this feat as well: https://t.co/nUKWaYoPcZ #FIAF3 #FIA #F3 pic.twitter.com/6b3Dn7HTgk
— Formula_EM (@Formula_EM_) September 9, 2018
Accusations
Stroll, whose father, Lawrence, owned a stake in PREMA at the time, was accused by rival George Russell of manufacturing team orders to help him secure the championship. However, despite the allegations, it does not diminish Stroll’s talent as he had already secured two titles beforehand: the 2014 Italian F4 and the 2015 Toyota Racing Series.
From being the youngest rookie to receive an F1 podium, the youngest person to get a front-row start, or taking a surprising pole at the 2020 Turkish Grand Prix, Stroll has shown that he is more than capable of performing well if given the right car. With Aston Martin setting a 5-year plan to challenge for the F1 title, can Stroll find himself battling toward the top of the midfield in 2023?
