F1 no Sunday stroll for Lance

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Williams rookie Lance Stroll will be Formula 1's latest teenager driver thus year, which makes the Canadian well aware of the monumental job of reaching the big time, labeling it 'a hell of a challenge'.

Stroll is stepping up from Formula 3 to Grand Prix racing, and despite a huge amount of preparation, thanks to father Lawrence Stroll's $80million investment in the future of his son, he knows the task will be daunting.

"I love Formula 1, I've been watching it ever since I've been a little boy," he said at Autosport International on Saturday.

"It's incredible for me to think I'm here [as an F1 driver]. It hasn't really completely sunk in yet, I think I'm only going to feel it when I'm on the grid in Melbourne.

"Then you're obviously there and the lights are going to go off and you're going to have to forget everything and concentrate.

"It's a hell of a challenge – there's going to be a lot to learn during the year, there are going to be hard times, there's going to be good times.

"It's going to be an incredible journey."

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A tailor-made testing program was established for Stroll in 2016 with the young man accumulating huge mileage on many tracks behind the wheel of a 2014 Williams.

Stroll even had his own simulator program back at Grove where he spent as much time as possible between his title-winning F3 commitment in Europe.

"I've been reading manuals and learning switches to know. And also a lot of preparation in the gym to get fit for this year's car, which is supposed to be a lot harder to drive.

"I've driven a Formula 1 car, that's good. It's better than not driving one at all and going straight from F3 to this year's car.

"I need to stay focused and be ready for this year's car, and this year's car's challenges are going to be different to what I learned in the 2014 car.

"It's another machine and it's another race car and I've been driving race cars my whole life."

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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.