'I'll be taking it one race at a time in 2017," says Lance Stroll

New Williams recruit Lance Stroll is determined to prepare as best as he can for his maiden year in Formula 1, but also to approach his season on a race by race basis.

In addition to his Formula 3 schedule, Stroll undertook a comprehensive F1 testing program this year, running on a variety of tracks with a 2014 Williams as well as spending much time in the factory simulator.

While he may be one of the best prepared rookies to enter the big time, Stroll isn't getting carried away with his ambitions for 2017, with many unknowns still facing the young Canadian hopeful when he line sup on the grid in Melbourne a little over 100 days from now.

"It's going to be physical, I'm going to have to prepare myself as much as possible for that first race," Stroll said in Vienna where he collected his European F3 champion's trophy.

"But it's a long season, it's not only about arriving in Melbourne and everything just being perfect. There will be other races to follow and throughout the year, I think me being a rookie I have a great team behind me which can teach me a lot, and which have a really good experience working with young drivers.

"And I'll have a great benchmark as a team mate, Valtteri, who will help me progress since he's proven to be a great talent in Formula 1. So just like in F3, I'll take it race by race."

After a short hiatus following his final race in the European F3 series and his frequent visits to the end of season F1 races, Stroll will be getting back into the gym to ramp up his preparation for 2017.

"Obviously throughout the winter I'm going to prepare myself as well as possible.  It's such a long season, and there is so much to improve throughout the season that I'm just going to take it race by race, and in between those races hammer it out in the gym, and do a lot of simulator time obviously."

When it comes to expectations, the 18-year-old has vowed to take it one step at a time, just as he has always done since he started racing in Formula 4 three years ago.

"Whether it's F1, or whether it's stepping up from Formula 4 to Formula 3, there are always expectations and you always hope to do well.

"But I think that what's been working for me in my career so far is just taking it as it comes, not trying to set false expectations because  again next year is a new year and no one knows where the cars and so many things will be.

"I'm just going to take it race by race. I'll be focusing on each task that comes along and try and conquer it."

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