Stroll admits to 'dramatic change' since racing in F1

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Williams Lance Stroll believes he has dramatically evolved as a driver since he lined up on the F1 grid for the very first time in Melbourne last year.

The 19-year-old gained access to the pinnacle of motorsport thanks to the lavish support and funding of his passionate father, fashion mogul Lawrence Stroll.

Labeled as a "rich kid pay-driver" upon his arrival in F1, and having endured all the wicked sarcasm that goes with such a title, Stroll kept his chin up however and worked diligently to prove his detractors wrong, which he eventually did.

He benefited from the knowledge of his experienced Williams team mate, Felipe Massa, in 2017, and the prospect of racing alongside rookie Sergey Sirotkin this season doesn't worry the Canadian who says he's undergone massive change over the last twelve months.

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"I think over the course of the year I've changed dramatically as a driver," he said.

"I've learned a tremendous amount, I've gained a lot of experience competing at the highest level with the best drivers in the world in F1.

"You experience all kinds of different emotions. You face adversity, and I've experienced standing on a podium and starting on a front row.

"It has taught me so much about being a racing driver, travelling the world and racing all these different kinds of tracks against the best drivers in the world.

"I've really just had to learn and adapt more than ever before, because there's so much to do in F1.

"There's so much to be on top of as a driver. It really requires perfection just to walk out of a weekend with a decent result.

"I definitely feel like compared to where I was in Melbourne 2017, I'm a completely different driver."

Like F1 rival Fernando Alonso, Stroll will enjoy a change of scenery this weekend as he'll be racing at Daytona with the #37 Jackie Chan DCR Jota Gibson LMP2 alongside Felix Rosenqvist, Robin Frijns and Daniel Juncadella, a crew which qualified a promising P6 on Thursday.

"I’m here because I love motorsport and I like to race in every car and category that I can," said Stroll.

"Two years ago I had a lot of fun in my first experience in Daytona and the vibe in this race is really special.

"Of course this year I expect the same and we are here to give our best and try to win the race. Competition will be strong, but I believe we have one of the best packages out there."

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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.