In 2023, Lance Stroll of Aston Martin F1 demonstrated significant growth and development as a driver.In 2023, Lance Stroll of Aston Martin F1 demonstrated significant growth and development as a driver.
Aston Martin F1 encountered a mix of successes and challenges in the course of 2023, and the performance of driver Lance Stroll also witnessed fluctuations throughout the season.
Before the commencement of the 2023 season, both Aston Martin and Lance Stroll made headlines. Prior to the Bahrain testing, Stroll suffered a cycling injury, casting uncertainty over his early-season participation.
Aston Martin enlisted reserve driver Felipe Drugovich to step in for Stroll during testing, sparking widespread speculation about Stroll’s condition. When the British team confirmed Stroll’s involvement, the situation intensified. Following the initial free practice session in 2023, the 25-year-old visibly encountered difficulties getting out of his car, requiring assistance from Aston Martin personnel to exit the AMR23.
Taking into account this context, Lance Stroll’s P6 result garnered widespread acclaim. His notable performance in Jeddah, where he achieved a purple sector 2 during qualifying, added to the public support for his efforts.
However, this positive momentum was short-lived, as a series of disappointing results ensued. Aston Martin F1 had just started establishing themselves as front-runners when their development program began to work against them.
With Stroll facing a points deficit to teammate Fernando Alonso, the initial half of 2023 presented a bitter-sweet scenario. Nevertheless, team principal Mike Krack is optimistic, asserting that Stroll showed significant improvement in the latter rounds of the year.
“Lance is in a great place. He’s relaxed and self-confident. You can see it in his body language. It’s very impressive how he has developed as a driver this year.
He faced the setback of an injury in the pre-season, which initially put him at a disadvantage. Despite this, he displayed real grit and determination to return to the driver’s seat as swiftly as possible. Even after going through all of that, he maintained impressive speed.
Later in the season, he rebounded strongly from a challenging phase, handling significant pressure with a great deal of assurance. I wish the season could have been a bit longer for him because he’s shown remarkable speed in the final rounds. We can build on that.”
The past twelve months have served as a comprehensive case study of Lance Stroll’s F1 career.
Given that Lance Stroll’s father, Lawrence Stroll, owns an Aston Martin F1, his position within the team inevitably faces scrutiny.
The most effective remedy, as always, would be to deliver tangible results in the upcoming season. If Dan Fallows and the technical team can create a competitive machine, it will provide Stroll with additional opportunities to demonstrate his capabilities against the top competitors.
