During the rain-affected 2025 British Grand Prix at Silverstone, Lance Stroll delivered a resilient seventh-place finish for Aston Martin, impressing at the team‘s home race. However, Stroll expressed sharp frustration with the team’s AMR25 car, highlighting his ongoing struggles despite scoring valuable points.
The weekend held mixed fortunes for Aston Martin as the Canadian driver started 17th after a difficult qualifying session, but maneuvered through the field with strategic pit stops and timely tire choices amid shifting weather conditions. Still, the underlying performance issues with the car overshadowed his competitive recovery.
Shortly after the race, onboard team radio exchanges revealed Stroll’s raw disappointment with the vehicle’s drivability, contrasting with the team’s praise for his effort.
Lance Stroll’s Candid Criticism Highlights Car’s Limitations
Following his seventh-place finish, Gary Gannon, Stroll’s race engineer, remarked,
“So, crazy car to drive, amazing finish.”
Stroll responded bluntly,
“Crazy is an understatement, I mean it’s the worst piece of s**t I’ve ever driven in my life, to be honest. But it’s OK, P7.”
Aston Martin had introduced significant aerodynamic upgrades at Silverstone, including modifications to the floor, floor fences, and engine cover, intending to enhance rear grip and overall downforce. Despite these changes, the team’s pace remained inconsistent throughout the weekend.
Fernando Alonso reached Q3, benefiting from grid penalties that promoted him to seventh on the starting grid, while Stroll struggled to find clear track space in qualifying. Red flag interruptions disrupted his runs and led to an 18th place starting position, setting the stage for a recovery-focused race.
Strategic Moves and Weather Chaos Defined Stroll’s Race
The race was marked by variable rain showers that kept teams guessing on tire strategy. Both Aston Martin drivers began on intermediate tires, but an early Virtual Safety Car period allowed a daring gamble: Stroll switched to slick tires despite patchy rain. This proved effective initially, as he gained nearly ten seconds in a critical middle sector before precipitation returned.
Amid the unfolding chaos, Stroll reverted to intermediate tires and climbed to as high as fourth place. However, as the track dried and the DRS zones became optimal, his car’s inability to manage tire degradation became apparent. Competitors like Lewis Hamilton, Nico Hulkenberg, and Pierre Gasly, on fresher tires, passed Stroll in the closing laps, ultimately seeing him finish seventh.
Team’s Perspective on Race Performance and Points Gain
Team Principal Andy Cowell defended the team’s race execution, emphasizing Stroll’s skill behind the wheel.
“Lance drove very well today. He didn’t put a wheel out of place. Given the pace of the car, P7 is a great result. In these rainy races, you often reflect and see opportunities where you could have done things differently… but we can be pleased to get both cars in the points at our home race.”
The double-points finish marked Aston Martin’s second such achievement this season, offering encouragement despite evident vehicle shortcomings.
Race Recap: Overcoming Qualifying Setbacks to Score Points
Stroll’s intense frustration over the car stemmed from persistent instability and grip issues throughout the race. The ever-changing weather kept the Silverstone track on a knife-edge, forcing drivers to adapt continuously. Stroll’s confidence enabled him to navigate tricky conditions effectively, but once the track dried, his AMR25 struggled to keep pace with rivals.
Reflecting on the race, Stroll commented,
“It was a tricky race, intense race, mixed conditions, happy to pick up some points in the end, good strategy calls. It was a good race from where we started for sure, bit disappointed in the end to lose out on those positions. I thought we could maybe hang on, but we’re just really struggling with tire degradation and that kind of put us on the back foot.”
The upgrades Aston Martin implemented helped improve balance but still fell short of enabling competition with leading teams such as McLaren and even the recovering Kick Sauber of Hulkenberg.
Currently, Aston Martin holds eighth place in the Constructors’ Championship with 36 points, comfortably ahead of Haas and Alpine. Stroll himself has moved up to 12th in the Drivers’ standings, accumulating 20 points so far this season.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Why did Lance Stroll choose 18?
A. Lance Stroll found it simple to choose his number. As a Canadian, he used number 18 during Formula 4 and the Toyota Racing Series. Additionally, he considers himself “a little superstitious,” so he kept this number when he joined F1, right after turning 18.
Q. Why did Lance Stroll choose number 18?
A. Lance Stroll picked the number 18 for his F1 car because he is somewhat superstitious. During his earlier racing days in Formula 3 and Formula 4, he won championships using this number. “I’m a bit superstitious, not too much, but small details like this matter to me,” he explained.
