Speculation continues to circulate about Lance Stroll and his chances of continuing in F1 with Aston Martin post-2024.
Lance Stroll was the feel-good story of early 2023, as he battled through injury to secure an impressive P6 in Bahrain. This strong performance was followed by an encouraging qualifying in Jeddah, as the 24-year-old returned to full fitness.
However, performances since then have been relatively uninspiring. The Canadian has qualified his teammate on just two occasions this year, with Fernando Alonso consistently maximizing the AMR23. The gap in race trim is equally significant, as evidenced by the over 100-point gap in the standings.
Stroll’s results have not been helped by Aston Martin’s form either, as the British team loses touch to its rivals. Over the last few rounds, the Silverstone-based squad has been relegated to fighting with Alpine and Williams. Whilst Alonso wrestles his car into the points, Stroll is struggling to secure top 10 results – on Saturday or Sunday.
Aston insists all is well
Singapore qualifying was perhaps the most dramatic example of Stroll’s difficulties, admitting that he gambled on his final run to qualify for Q2. However, the response within the team – much like throughout 2023 – was one of support.
Mike Krack, Aston Martin team principal, consistently defends the 24-year-old’s results. This is hardly a surprise, considering that Stroll’s father – Lawrence Stroll – owns the team. This dynamic is often an area of contention for fans, who criticize the near-guaranteed position he enjoys within the team – and F1 more broadly.
The comments made by Krack in Singapore were received particularly poorly by fans. The Aston boss argued that the incident was proof of Stroll’s commitment to Formula 1 – given the nature of the incident. Unsurprisingly, for a crash to be spun into a positive drew the attention of fans and media alike.
Lance Stroll was confirmed as an Aston Martin driver for 2024 after the summer break, as rumors spread regarding his future. Although there was some quite far-fetched speculation about a switch to Tennis, there were also more credible reports questioning his future.
Doubts over 2025 and beyond
In recent weeks, these question marks persist. A new report from f1-insider suggests that Stroll’s long-term commitment to F1 is unclear. The performance deficit compared to Fernando Alonso and generally poor results are said to be contributing factors. It is also understood that Aston Martin is searching for potential alternatives in the market should a replacement be necessary in 2025.
To be clear, only time will determine if Lance Stroll decides to continue in F1. However, there is a point when – sooner or later – Aston Martin will have to show ambition with its driver pairing. Their current position in the standings, though largely due to poor development, can also be attributed to Stroll’s lack of points.
Moreover, Honda will join the team as their engine supplier in 2026. Although it is unclear how significant Honda will impact driver selection, it seems unlikely Stroll would be their first choice. The speed shown by 42-year-old Alonso is also making it difficult to explain away the Canadian’s form.
There is little to suggest change is imminent at Team Silverstone. With that said, it remains if the British outfit will accept Stroll’s output indefinitely.
