Aston Martin boss Lawrence Stroll has to publicly take a stand on his son’s driving skills.
Lance Stoll (left) is the apple of Lawrence’s father’s eye in the Aston Martin team. PDO
Aston Martin failed to deliver For Sebastian Vettel competitive car.
Brittitalli would have liked to keep the four-time world champion in its ranks, but it was even more important to get a final solution before the three-week summer vacation.
Vettel felt the pressure on his neck and he didn’t like it at all. Because of that, it was much easier for the German to justify quitting.
The retirement of the number one driver now leaves Aston Martin at a watershed.
Principal owner By Lawrence Stroll must decide whether his Lance-his son is mature enough to lead the team in the future. The younger Stroll has already collected 112 GP starts in six F1 seasons
He is in the same company as sports legends like Keke Rosberg (114) or Damon Hill (115). Finnish shocks Mika Salo (110) and Heikki Kovalainen (111) have already fallen behind Stroll in the number of competitions.
After this season, the Canadian striker (122 races) is already sir Jack Brabham behind 56th on the list of the most experienced F1 drivers of all time.
The junior, who will soon turn 24, is no longer a brute.
The story continues after the video.
Watch the video for a sample of Lance Stroll’s driving skills. You can follow the F1 races on Viasat’s channels and Elisa Viihde’s Viaplay service.
“Good news”
However, the truth is that boy Stroll is not yet mature enough to lead an F1 team.
Vettel’s retirement means that Aston Martin has to publicly take a stand on Lance Stroll’s position in the team. Is he just dad’s favorite or perhaps a true F1 hero ready to take the team on his back?
For the other drivers, the situation is downright delicious.
– This is good news for me, Fernando Alonso grinned when reporters asked his thoughts after Vettel’s press conference.
It is known that Alpine would have been ready to offer the Spaniard only a one-year contract extension, but Alonso would like at least a two-year contract.
Also McLaren’s Daniel Ricciardo might be interested in the escape route offered by Aston Martin. The Aussi driver has become a bad team mate by Lando Norris feet, and he would have the opportunity to cancel his own contract.
Father Stroll is, of course, in a key position in the negotiations. He can put a piece of paper on the table that would arouse the interest of Alonso and Ricciardo. Although then the boy-Stroll might interpret the gesture as a statement of no confidence in his own abilities – and it would undoubtedly be that.
Return of the Hulk?
Of course, the team can also rely on the joker option.
Vettel’s compatriot and peer Nico Hulkenberg has for years been locating the organization formerly known as Force India and Racing Point.
The story continues after the picture.
Nico Hülkenberg is a familiar sight in Aston Martin overalls. PDO
Hülkenberg has also driven so few modern cars that boy Stroll might even beat him by driving. In this way, the pecking order within the stable would automatically change to the “correct” direction.
The same reaction could also come Mick Schumacher, of Nyck de Vries or the McLaren junkie Colton Hertan with a loan agreement.
But at the same time, father Stroll’s message to the entire F1 world would be that his organization is not seriously aiming for the top of the sport.