A week before the F1 action resumes at Spa, Lance Stroll is hoping Williams will bounce back from the summer break as a more consistent runner.

Williams' target at the outset this year was to lead the mid-field and perhaps give the front-runners an occasional run for their money.

But the team's new-spec FW40 has failed to perform according to the Grove-based outfit's expectations, displaying particular weakness at high-downforce venues.

The flaw has led to inconsistency and a struggle to keep up with fouth-placed team and rival Force India.

"We know that [consistency] is one of our issues, and we're addressing it, but it's not so simple," says Stroll.

"We're not where we want to be every weekend, due to different tracks, tracks that suit out car. Some ways it works and some tracks just don't work with our car.

"We're working on it, but it's not ideal, as sometimes we're comfortably in Q3 and at other tracks we're struggling to get out of Q1, so we need to fix that."

Stroll on the other hand is happy with his performance to date after a rocky start to his F1 career.

Mishaps and crashes cast a doubt in the eyes of the pundits but a string of good results, including a podium finish in Azerbaijan, undoubtedly improved his prospects and his image.

Yet, the 18-year-old Canadian rookie admits he is still very much on a learning curve.

"Every time I get in the car, there is something to work on, but I'm pretty happy with the way it's been going lately," said Stroll.

"Obviously we had our tough moments, which was expected in a first season You have to expect adversity and you have just got to get over it.

"But we had some great moments, scoring points, getting the podium in Baku, and we scored a good amount of points in the first part of the season.

"So far, so good, but there's still a long way to go, so we just have to take it race by race and focus on one thing at a time."

Gallery: The beautiful wives and girlfriends of F1

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter

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.

Recent Posts

Colapinto camp stepped in after Ocon clash to prevent death threats

Franco Colapinto’s management opted for an extraordinary defensive maneuver after the Alpine driver’s clash with…

3 hours ago

F1 The Movie wins Oscar for Best Sound

F1 The Movie took a victory lap on Sunday evening at the 98th Academy Awards,…

4 hours ago

Formula 1's first and last unofficial starter

German driver Hans Heyer was born on this day in 1943, and while his main…

5 hours ago

Stella confirms engine-related failures, but won’t blame Mercedes

McLaren endured a bitterly frustrating weekend at the Chinese Grand Prix as both of its…

6 hours ago

Kirkwood beats Palou to claim Arlington IndyCar glory

Kyle Kirkwood delivered a masterpiece on Sunday in the shadows of AT&T Stadium, proving that…

7 hours ago

‘A horror show’: Wolff links Verstappen’s attacks to Red Bull’s woes

While Max Verstappen continues to wage a verbal war against Formula 1’s 2026 regulations, Mercedes…

8 hours ago