Stroll ridicules switch from F1 to tennis rumor

©AstonMartin

40

In the annals of outrageous career switch speculations in F1, a story claiming that Lance Stroll was considering a move to the pro tennis circuit at the end of the season served up a good laugh.

The outlandish rumor made the rounds of the internet last week, feeding on Stroll's underperformance this season, a reality that the Canadian himself wouldn’t deny.

Stroll's career in F1 has stagnated in the past few seasons, with noteworthy performances few and far between. And the state of the 24-year-old's affairs hasn't improved this year with Fernando Alonso by his side.

The Spaniard did wonders in the first part of the season with Aston's AMR23, but Stroll - who suffered a difficult start to his 2023 campaign following a pre-season cycling crash – has struggled to get near his teammate's performances.

Read also: Stroll concedes Alonso is ‘a little bit quicker’

Queried on the wild speculation that emerged recently, Stroll brushed off the absurd suggestion that he's pondering a move from the fast lane to the tennis circuit with a hearty laugh.

"Tennis! I heard tennis, too," he said at Zandvoort this weekend.

'If I’m going to go on tour, I better work on my backhand a little bit. Don’t think I’m quite at that level yet.

"I like to think I’m pretty good, but I don’t think I’m ready to go up against Djokovic and Alcaraz yet."

Stroll wasn't sure about the source of the crazy speculation, but alluded to Sky F1 commentator David Croft as the potential culprit.

"It was like Crofty or someone who came up with that," he said. "He was having a few beers on the couch [at the] beginning of August, thinking about my tennis game. I don't know!

“Gotta ask him. That was an odd one. I don't know where he came up with that one. It was very creative. But, yeah, I haven't really thought about it, picking up tennis as a career.”

While there will at some point come a day when Stroll will contemplate a life beyond F1, for now the Aston Martin driver says he's focused on his next race.

"We’ll all wake up and make that decision," he said. "I think every driver in the grid, but no, I’m thinking about the race tomorrow.

"I want to keep racing, it’s what I love to do."

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.