Lance Stroll Reveals Why Alonso's Points Advantage is Misleading - It's Not What You Think
In the competitive world of Formula 1, numbers often narrate a compelling story, but do they always reflect the entire picture? According to Canadian driver Lance Stroll, the points gap between him and his more experienced Aston Martin teammate, Fernando Alonso, is a “little bit deceiving” when it comes to assessing their on-track performances.
The Stroll-Alonso Dynamic
Fernando Alonso, a two-time World Champion, joined Aston Martin to replace the retired Sebastian Vettel last season. While Alonso has been capitalizing on the team's renewed vigor with eight podiums and 206 points, Stroll has lagged behind, trailing by six spots and amassing 132 points less. This disparity continued into the current season, with Alonso racking up 33 points to Stroll's 11.
Despite this, Stroll maintains that the points do not tell the whole story. “He's a two-time World Champion and people see him as a top driver in Formula 1, and it's four-four in quali,” Stroll told The Canadian Press. He emphasizes that the points can often be affected by external circumstances, such as engine failures, which may distort a driver’s actual performance level compared to his teammate.
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Aston Martin has had a turbulent season with the AMR24, a car that has shown unpredictable performance traits. Team boss Mike Krack admitted that recent updates at Imola failed to produce the desired improvements, making the car even more challenging to handle. This was evident when Alonso crashed in FP3 and faced a Q1 elimination. Stroll, on the other hand, exhibited resilience by climbing up to ninth place in the race.
Stroll’s perspective on his recent performances is optimistic. “I look at my last few weekends, and I think they've been strong,” he stated. “When I look at pace right now, and speed, it's four-four in quali. People say he's super-good and I beat him the last few weekends, so take it as you want.”
Commitment to Aston Martin
Stroll has been vocal about his dedication to Aston Martin’s ongoing project. At the Monaco Grand Prix, he affirmed his commitment to the team and dismissed any thoughts of transferring to another team. “We’re on a super exciting trajectory and project as Aston Martin,” he said. “I’m much more excited to be part of this journey than just going to another team to say that I could be driving somewhere else.”
As Stroll gears up for his home race at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, his focus remains on future plans with Aston Martin. Although not yet confirmed for the 2025 season, his intention is clear: “Yeah, that’s where my head’s at, for sure. Everything that's happening at Silverstone and the project with the team and how we've grown over the last few years, and we continue to grow.”
Addressing his aspirations for the current weekend, he added, “So it’s definitely in my mind to continue being a part of that, but really focused on Montréal this weekend and enjoy my home race and trying to have a good result this weekend.”
Final Thoughts
While the numbers may suggest a significant gap between Stroll and Alonso, the Canadian driver’s perspective offers a nuanced understanding of what happens behind the scenes in a Formula 1 season. From engine failures to unpredictable car performance, many factors contribute to the final points tally. As Stroll remains committed to making his mark with Aston Martin, only time will tell if his optimism translates into on-track success.