Lance Stroll has not said he is certain to drive for Aston Martin next season, but says he is “absolutely committed” to the project and is “excited” to be part of it.
Aston Martin teamed with two-time world champion Fernando Alonso last season to record their best season ever in F1, but all eight podium finishes were down to Alonso.
Lance Stroll: That’s what’s on my mind
Additional reporting by Sam Cooper
The Spaniard outshone Lance Stroll in every important statistic, but especially in the drivers’ standings, scoring 206 points to the Canadian’s 74.
Amid mounting pressure and criticism, Stroll not only shoved his trainer at the Qatar Grand Prix but also gave a brusque response to the media.
2024 is likely to follow a similar pattern but with fewer points and less close competition, with Alonso expected to score 33 points and Stroll 11.
But despite team principal Mike Clueck making it clear that the “whole project” is built “around” Stroll, questions still remain about the Canadian driver and whether he really wants to stay in F1.
He gave an oblique response, telling media including PlanetF1.com: “It’s amazing how far we’ve come as a team in the last five years. We’ve come a long way as a team since we were the pink team.”
“We have a really exciting wind tunnel that we’re currently building and we have a fantastic facility now at Silverstone where we moved last year, so a lot of the pieces of the puzzle are really coming together.”
“In addition to the talented people who have been with us for many years, we have had and continue to have many new talented people join, which makes this project very exciting.
“So in my mind, the future is definitely here. That’s what’s in my head.”
When asked about his commitment, he replied: “Of course, I am going to give my all to this whole project.”
“As I said, we went from 350 to 400 people in 2019 to 1,000 now. Silverstone looks completely different to how it looked 18 months ago.”
“So I’m definitely keen and excited to be a part of this project.”
Aston Martin is one of only three with a complete line-up for 2025.
F1 2025 driver lineup: Who’s already confirmed for the 2025 grid?
F1: 10 drivers whose contracts expire at the end of the 2024 season
Stroll is often said to be the most consistent driver on the grid – perhaps even more consistent than Max Verstappen, given that his father Lawrence owns the Aston Martin team.
When asked, “In your position, do you still have to produce results?”, he replied: “I’m the most competitive person I know. I’m a person who likes to do things very well and perform very well.”
“I feel good even in tough times. It was good to get a few points last weekend and I’m still enjoying it.”
“I’m usually the first person to blame myself when things go wrong, but after seven or eight years in F1, I still get excited and happy on the good days.
“So that feeling still drives me and keeps me going. And, of course, like everyone in this paddock, I hate bad days.”
“It’s a team effort and it’s been fun to be part of this journey and project and see all these pieces come together at Silverstone.”
“Last year we started the season really strong and it was a big step forward for us. We had a little bit of a dip. And this year it’s a little tougher, but there’s still a lot of positivity and excitement. That keeps me positive and excited.”
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