Stroll’s defiant response to F1 critics: ‘It’s a short-minded business’

Aston Martin F1’s Lance Stroll has hit back at critics who have suggested his time in Formula 1 should come to an end, following years of underwhelming performances and another wave of public scrutiny.

The 26-year-old Canadian, now in his eighth full season in F1, started this year’s campaign on a decent note, securing points in Australia and in China. However, his campaign has since faltered, with no points scored in a Grand Prix since the Miami sprint race.

His absence from the Spanish Grand Prix due to a recurring wrist injury, rooted in a 2023 cycling accident, further fueled doubts about his commitment and performance. A crash in FP2 at his home race in Canada, where he finished 17th, added to the growing criticism of his consistency and racecraft.

Timo Glock: “He’s simply too far behind”

Among those questioning Stroll’s place on the grid is Timo Glock, former F1 driver and current pundit for Sky Germany, who voiced his clear-cut opinion during the Canadian Grand Prix weekend.

“Sporting-wise, he’s definitely not where he needs to be after his long time in Formula 1,” Glock said.
“He has had relatively clear defeats and hasn’t been able to convince with consistency this year, either.

“There’s always a weekend where he seems to be catching up with Fernando Alonso. But over the course of a whole year, he’s simply too far behind [and] too inconsistent. He then makes the mistakes accordingly.

“In the current situation, you would have to reposition yourself to be successful.”

Glock’s assessment echoes a broader view in the paddock, where many question believe that Stroll’s prolonged tenure is based on his father Lawrence Stroll’s ownership of the Aston Martin team, and not on merit.

Beyond on-track performance, Stroll’s often detached and joyless public demeanor also draws criticism. His apparent lack of enthusiasm is frequently interpreted as a sign of someone unhappy in a role many consider a dream job – fueling doubts about his motivation and commitment.

Stroll’s Defiant Response

Addressing the media ahead of this weekend’s Austrian Grand Prix, Stroll responded to Glock and other critics with a composed, if somewhat jaded, perspective on the nature of public opinion in F1.

“I think Formula 1 is a business with very short-minded opinions and if you have two good races, you're the best driver in the world. And if you have two bad ones, you're not good enough and you shouldn't be here anymore, and you're shit,” the Canadian said.

“So I think that's the business. That's how it's always been. It's how it always will be.”

Stroll also touched on the emotional toll of difficult weekends, explaining that highs and lows are simply part of the sport.

“I think when you have a crap day, you don't enjoy having a crap day. When you have a good day, you enjoy having a good day. So I think that's also just how it is, you know.”

Keeping the Circle Tight

Rather than dwell on the negative noise, Stroll emphasized a more internal approach to performance evaluation. He explained that he prefers to focus on the insight and support of his immediate team.

“I think it is what it is. I mean, no, I like to kind of just focus on what I'm doing and the people around me, my engineer, my team that know what's going on and know the reasons behind what happened every weekend, and how it could have been better, why it was a bit worse or whatever,” he said.

“So I like to kind of keep that circle small and focus my energy on that.”

• Read also: Stroll’s return raises more questions than answers in Montreal

Whether Stroll remains at the team in the long-term may depend not just on his father’s influence, but on his ability to silence doubters with results – something that has proved elusive so far.

For now, though, Stroll remains in the car and in the conversation – though increasingly as a driver with something to prove.

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