Adrian Newey has publicly defended Lance Stroll against what he describes as unfair criticism regarding the Canadian driver’s performance. Despite being the son of Aston Martin’s team owner, Lawrence Stroll, Lance remains a consistent figure in the team’s lineup, even as some question whether his results justify his spot. Newey emphasizes that Lance deserves more credit for his skills and contributions to the team.
Lawrence Stroll, the billionaire who owns Aston Martin F1 team, has assembled a strong roster around his son, including attracting two-time champion Fernando Alonso and securing Newey’s services after his departure from Red Bull. The team has also been associated with ambitious efforts to sign Max Verstappen. Lance Stroll, now in his fifth season with Aston Martin, achieved his best championship position of 10th in the 2021 Formula 1 standings.
Newey Highlights Lance Stroll’s Abilities Amid Criticism
Newey disagrees with the widespread negative perception surrounding Lance Stroll’s abilities. Speaking with the BBC, Newey remarked that Stroll
“has an unfairly bad rap, on average.”
He added,
“Any driver who gets to Formula 1 is clearly very good,”
insisting that Lance is
“much better than people who’ve been very poor.”
This acknowledgment reflects Newey’s belief that Stroll’s talent is undervalued in public assessments.
Newey Reflects on Working with Top Drivers Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton
Recognized as one of the greatest car designers in Formula 1 history, Newey has expressed long-standing ambitions to work with legendary drivers Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton. Since joining Aston Martin, Newey has welcomed the opportunity to collaborate with Alonso, describing him as “such a cool character.” He noted,
“He’s been an enemy for many years, along with Lewis, and I think I’ve said before that you can only work with so many drivers, but two drivers I always wanted that I felt I would enjoy working with, were Lewis and Fernando, and I couldn’t work with both, so at least I got one of them.”
Looking ahead, Newey believes his growing relationship with Alonso will deepen over time, saying,
“It’s only when you get to the racetrack that you really start to develop that relationship, so I’m looking forward to that developing a little bit this season, but particularly next season.”
Newey’s Role in Aston Martin’s Present and Future Development
Newey’s presence at the Monaco Grand Prix marked his first race weekend on site with Aston Martin. According to team principal Andy Cowell, Newey has already begun making significant changes within the team. His primary focus is on preparing for the 2026 Formula 1 regulations, aiming to engineer a car capable of dominating future seasons.
Newey highlighted the challenge of uniting the team’s talent, explaining,
“There’s a lot of individually very, very good people. We just need to try to get them working together, perhaps in a slightly better organised way.”
He also pointed out the team’s evolving origins, saying,
“That’s simply a result of the roots of the team at Jordan, that became Force India, that became Racing Point, and was as such always a small but slightly over-performing team, to now in a very short space of time a very big team that the truth is has been underperforming this year.”
Implications for Aston Martin’s Season and Beyond
Adrian Newey’s defense of Lance Stroll brings attention to the complexities facing Aston Martin as it navigates a highly competitive Formula 1 environment. While some question the driver’s performance, Newey’s support combined with strategic investments in car design and driver talent underlines the team’s ambitions. The focus on future regulations suggests that Aston Martin is building long-term competitiveness, even as the current season has presented challenges.
With key figures like Lawrence Stroll, Fernando Alonso, and Newey steering the team’s direction, Aston Martin is positioned to continue evolving. How Stroll’s standing within the team will develop alongside these efforts remains an important question for the upcoming races.
