Stroll swaps F1 misery for £3m Aston Martin joyride

©Instagram/monaco_luxurylifestyle

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©Instagram/monaco_luxurylifestyle

Lance Stroll doesn’t have much to celebrate with Aston Martin this season, but at least life comes with a few compensations when your father owns the team.

During Formula 1’s summer break, the Canadian was spotted prowling around Monaco in one of the marque’s most outrageous toys: the ultra-rare DBR22 speedster.

The open-cockpit, 705-horsepower V12 speedster – one of just 22 built to honor the marque’s bespoke ‘Q’ division and its 1959 Le Mans triumph – can hit 198 mph. But it’s also a £3 million rolling reminder that some F1 perks are considerably more glamorous than others.

For Stroll, the set of wheels is perhaps also a welcome change of pace. The 2026 F1 season has been an absolute calamity for Team Silverstone.

A B-spec upgrade introduced last time out in Hungary proved encouraging, while this will be complemented by a new Honda engine from next week’s Dutch Grand Prix.

In the interim, Stroll can at least enjoy 0-to-60 in 3.5 seconds without needing a pit crew.

©Instagram/monaco_luxurylifestyle

Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.