Stroll happy with another confidence-building race and P7

Lance Stroll has a lot to be happy about following a spirited drive in Sunday's Italian Grand Prix which yielded a seventh-place finish.

Stroll launched his race from the front row but was deprived of an opportunity to outrun Lewis Hamilton into the first chicane when the Mercedes moved over on the rookie's Williams.

The move subsequently allowed Esteban Ocon's Force India to outbrake Stroll into Turn 1 and steal part of the Canadian's thunder.

The 18-year old then ran a consistent race marked later on by a slow pitstop. He fell into the clutches of team mate Felipe Massa, the two white cars even touching in the closing stages of the races.

But Stroll held his own to achieve a respectable result. 

• Hamilton breezes to easy victory in Italian Grand Prix

"It was good. Could've been better," Stroll told Sky Sports F1.

"There were parts of the race that weren't perfect. Lewis didn't have such a great start which blocked me and meant I had to back off and give the position to Esteban.

"The pace was strong and it was a shame about the pitstop. That was our opportunity to jump him. A good P7 which was awesome.

"I had a massive flat spot so couldn't see much but racing is racing. I really enjoyed myself."

The Williams rookie underlined the fact that he continues to learn with every outing, building both his experience and his confidence.

"Every opportunity that I have to be in positions that I was today is strategy that I'll learn. Days like today and Baku, I feel like I'm getting better and better.

"It was a very special moment for me [starting on the front row]. Qualifying was probably the highlight of the weekend, being able to do what I did in those conditions."

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