The F1 hero who truly inspired Lance Stroll

Lance Stroll has the utmost respect for Lewis Hamilton, but it is another F1 legend who really inspired the young Canadian to follow his dreams.

The 19-year-old Williams driver grew up in a privileged environment, and as a young child he followed his father to many F1 races when fashion mogul Lawrence Stroll was a sponsor of Ferrari.

The frequent visits to the paddock gave him an insider's glimpse into the thrilling world of F1, but also stirred his interest for one man in particular.

"Schumacher was my hero," Stroll said in an interview with Express & Star.

"In the racing world he was the guy I looked up to when growing up. I was always fascinated by how much he achieved and how often he was winning. It was incredible.

"And off the track as well he was a true champion. He was humble, he always kept his feet on the ground and I respect that."

• Stroll won't miss Massa's experience at Williams

There's also no denying Stroll's admiration for four-time world champion Lewis Hamilton however.

Beyond the Mercedes driver's outstanding talent, Stroll underlines another one of the Brit's main assets, his ability to withstand pressure.

"You saw in the title race last year how well Lewis handles pressure," Stroll said

"(Sebastian) Vettel folded, but Lewis was able to handle that expectation.

"His car wasn’t always easy to drive. Mercedes struggled at a few races. But he still managed to get the most out of it and score points when he had to.

"He was consistent throughout the whole year. He really was on it, he was determined to score points every weekend.

"Hats off to him, he completely deserves the success he has had. He is extremely talented and I hope I can have half the success he’s had in my career."

Gallery: The beautiful wives and girlfriends of F1 drivers

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