Williams confirms development role for ex-Ferrari junior Stroll

Williams has confirmed the appointment of FIA European Formula 3 race winner Lance Stroll to its young driver development programme.

The 17-year-old will leave the Ferrari Driver Academy to be “fully immersed” within the Grove-based squad, which likens his status to that of current driver Valtteri Bottas when he joined Williams in 2011.

After an up-and-down rookie F3 campaign with renowned outfit Prema Powerteam, Stroll will dovetail his F1 commitment - which includes “extensive simulator time” - with a second season in the highly-rated junior category.

The Canadian teenager, whose billionaire father Lawrence Stroll was briefly linked to a potential buy-out of Sauber last year, won the 2014 Italian Formula 4 championship before dominating the Toyota Racing Series in the winter.

“At Williams, we are committed to using our resource and expertise to help talented young drivers to reach their potential,” deputy team principal Claire Williams said. “We have a track record of success in this area, having supported Valtteri Bottas in his growth from a development driver role to a race driver and one of the most respected talents in Formula One.”

“We have identified Lance as a promising talent for the future and we are happy to provide our support to his development as a driver. We look forward to working with Lance in 2016 and to the success he can achieve in the future.”

Commenting on his appointment, Stroll added: “I’m really honoured to be part of such a great team and one with so much history and success. I cannot wait to start working with Williams and very much hope we can achieve great things together in the coming years.

“It’s a very exciting and crucial time in my short motor racing career. Reaching F1 was always the ultimate goal, I suppose ever since driving a go-kart my father had bought me for my fifth birthday.

“Williams has a long history of nurturing young drivers at the start of their F1 careers. David Coulthard, Jenson Button, Nico Rosberg, Nico Hülkenberg and most recently Valtteri [Bottas]. This element was something that was important to me in making the decision to join Williams.

“My future is now with [them], which I’m very excited about.”

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