Lance stroll is in his second season on formula one and is expected to move to Racing Point Force India (Hereafter known as RPFI) very soon, later this season and is definitely expected to be at RPFI in 2019. But Stroll has come out and said he should be “acknowledged” a bit more, but should he?
Stroll enters his second season of formula 1, with Williams-Martini Racing, whom he is not sure he will end the season with. After, his father, Lawerence Stroll and a consortium purchased Force India. He is very much expected to be carried over to RPFI because of his father’s ownership in the Silverstone outfit.
But, whom he replaces is the biggest talking point around a lot of people. He is expected to replace Esteban Ocon, a long time friend of Stroll’s . However, fans do not think he is on par with Ocon. This is true. But why is it true? Let’s go through that.
Lance Stroll’s junior formula was a good one. He took three different championships, in the Italian F4 championship, the Toyota Racing Series and also the FIA European F3 championship. He beat some names that fans and teams alike want now in formula one. In the Toyota Racing Series and F3, he beat names such as George Russell, Callum Ilott, Artem Markelov, Sérgio Sette Camara and others. His junior career really stacks up to say he has talent.
Looking at whom he beat, yes there are rumours that his dad paid his teammates to let him win. But did he pay people like Russell, no. George Russell is now a driver who keeps impressing fans and is even leading the formula 2 championship. But Stroll has a lot of credit in the junior formula, his results in F1, they aren’t the best results ever. They aren’t the best rookie results.
So in his rookie season he scored a total of 40 points to his teammate Felipe Massa’s 43 points. The problem with Stroll is he wants credit for his podium in Baku last year. That was not his stand out moment. It really wasn’t, for all of us I’m sure we were happy to see a Williams up on that podium and it’s always brilliant to see a team outside the top 3 on that podium because it means a lot to the team and it’s heartwarming to see.
Yet in Azerbaijan, it was luck for him, that helped him the most. Retirements, crashes and the top two not having the best time with each other. He got lucky. Really lucky. Now, look at his first points in f1. He scored them at his home race in Canada. He started P18, and drove the car to P9. That was impressive that was brilliant to watch, and he did it at his home race which meant a lot to him.
The moment, if you haven’t seen it. That should be the stand out for him, was this time last year -Monza. Wet qualifying, the Red Bull’s both had grid penalties. If there is conditions to prove you have talent it’s the wet. Of course Lewis Hamilton took pole, seems like he always gets pole position in the wet, definitely this season. But, out of nowhere Stroll puts in this lap, which was a brilliant lap, and it was really brilliant and suddenly this 18 year old kid is going to start in he front row. With Ocon in Force India, behind him. Stroll qualified 4th which meant he started alongside Hamilton on front row becoming the second youngest ever driver to
start on a front row.
(Watch from 3:50 to see his lap)
If Stroll wants to be "acknowledged" more he has to use the results he worked for the most and showcased his talent the best, his first points in Canada and that qualifying in Monza. They were his best moments last year. They really were.
If you compare him to the driver he would be replacing. Ocon's results stand massively above his, Ocon seemingly comes across as the better driver. But, most fans say he is the better driver of the two. If you placed Stroll and Ocon in the same car, Ocon would probably win and beat Stroll by a long shot.
But, this year. Stroll has not impressed many, but he never seems to impress people. This year, his car has been shocking, that is a massive factor in his performances this year. The Williams FW41 is the worst car on the grid by a mile, and somewhat unfortunately for Stroll but also Sirotkin they've been stuck in it. Some will say it's what they deserve because they both "brought their seats"
Whether any of us like it or not. Stroll will be in that RPFI. His dad is in charge, so his name is written on that seat. To a large majority of fan, Stroll has to impress in the Force India car next year, for him not to become or be seen as a "talentless" driver. Stroll isn't untalented, he really isn't, but is he the next world champion? No. Could he be the number two? Yeah.
Stroll, is probably going to be around for a while, especially now his dad is with RPFI. His results are not the best, but he's not the worst. His starts, they deserve more credit, his qualifying in Monza, that need more acknowledgement. His junior results, should be acknowledged as well.
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