Schumacher slams Stroll again: ‘Time for Lance to face reality’

Ralf Schumacher has reignited his long-running criticism of Lance Stroll, unloading another blistering assessment of the Canadian’s form at Aston Martin.

The Sky Germany pundit – never shy about calling out the 25-year-old – says Stroll’s continued struggles make it clear: the time has come for the driver, and perhaps even the team, to “face reality.”

Stroll’s numbers tell a sobering story. He hasn’t outqualified Fernando Alonso in 31 consecutive races, a streak that stretches all the way back to the 2023 British Grand Prix. Although he sits only eight points behind the two-time world champion in the standings, the gap in one-lap speed has become impossible to ignore.

With Aston Martin gearing up for a pivotal future – Adrian Newey-designed cars, Honda power, and ambitions of becoming a race-winning force in 2026 – Schumacher says the team’s driver situation remains its biggest headache.

Schumacher Unloads on Aston’s Line-Up

Speaking on the latest episode of the Sky Germany F1 podcast, Schumacher didn’t sugarcoat his view of Stroll’s persistent deficit to Alonso.

“Aston Martin is also looking for drivers, of course. The qualifying performance is zero against infinity, so what else is there to say? I know Aston Martin is very sensitive about this, but it’s simple, yes, it’s a disaster,” he said.

The six-time Grand Prix driver went further, questioning why Stroll remains shielded from scrutiny when even Alonso – still a force to be reckoned with on a good day but certainly in the twilight of his career – is showing him the way.

“And I’ll say it again, I’m also surprised that Lance, I think it’s hard for him to do that, too,” he added.

“In races here and there, he can make his mark, but if you’re constantly slower than Fernando Alonso, who is certainly an exceptional talent, but rather at the end of his career, then maybe you should just take off your rose-tinted glasses and face reality.”

Aston Martin’s aspirations are sky-high. The team has poured resources into its new state-of-the-art Silverstone campus, signed Adrian Newey and Enrico Cardile to spearhead its technical revolution, and been linked with driver market heavyweights including Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc, and Oscar Piastri.

But the line-up remains unchanged, locked in by Lawrence Stroll’s ownership – and Schumacher says that dynamic continues to cast a long shadow.

‘Paternal pride is greater than reality’

While Schumacher acknowledges Stroll is not the root of all Aston Martin’s issues, he suggests the team’s vision for the future would be clearer without the complicated family ties.

“To be fair, it has to be said that Lance Stroll is not the biggest problem at Aston Martin at the moment,” he said.

“The car itself is an issue, isn’t it? He’s obviously in a position to be a good points scorer, a good number 2 or something, but yes, whatever, I think in this case paternal pride is greater than reality, and you have to accept that.”

And in Schumacher’s view, the time is coming when sentimentality must give way to competitiveness.

“It’s his money, his team, so from that point of view, that’s how it is, but looking at it from the outside, you’d probably say that two new drivers at some point wouldn’t be so bad, if Fernando Alonso then stops doing everything.”

With Alonso’s illustrious career inevitably nearing its end and Aston Martin plotting a top-tier future, Schumacher’s message to the team – and especially to Stroll – is sharp, simple, and impossible to ignore: the numbers don’t lie, and the clock is ticking.

Read also: Aston Martin filings give rare look at Stroll’s hefty payday

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