At the British Grand Prix, Lance Stroll criticized the Aston Martin AMR25 heavily, describing it as the
“worst piece of sh*t I’ve ever driven in my life”
during his cooldown lap after the race. Despite his frustration, Stroll managed to climb from 18th to finish seventh, earning valuable points for the team in challenging wet and drying track conditions.
Strong Performance Amid Difficult Racing Conditions
Starting near the back of the grid, Stroll impressed by advancing through the field to reach third place at one point, boosted by clever strategy calls from Aston Martin. However, as the track began to dry in the final laps, he was passed by Nico Hulkenberg and Lewis Hamilton, two experienced drivers. Ultimately, Stroll secured seventh place after 52 laps, marking his first points finish since the second round in China earlier this season.
While his race pace was hampered by significant tyre degradation—particularly on intermediates—Stroll showed resilience, battling the car’s shortcomings and adapting to the tricky conditions. His team strategist, Gary Gannon, praised him over the radio for the strong result given the car’s performance level, emphasizing that finishing seventh was a noteworthy achievement.
Criticism Sparks Backlash from Former F1 Driver Ralf Schumacher
Stroll’s blunt comment about the AMR25 triggered sharp criticism from former Formula 1 driver Ralf Schumacher, who called the remarks “very disappointing” and a matter of poor manners. Speaking on the Sky Deutschland Backstage Pitlane podcast, Schumacher highlighted the disrespect shown to the team responsible for preparing the car, pointing out:
“I have to say, this statement is very disappointing, and quite honestly, it’s a question of manners,” —Ralf Schumacher, Former F1 Driver
He also criticized Stroll’s attitude toward the mechanics and engineers who work tirelessly behind the scenes:
“It’s unspeakable and indicates a poor upbringing. I don’t know what movie hero he thinks he is, but such statements diminish his own results.” —Ralf Schumacher, Former F1 Driver
Schumacher urged the Canadian driver to make amends by apologizing to the team for the harsh comments:
“Dear Lance, apologise to the team.” —Ralf Schumacher, Former F1 Driver
Team Effort Brings Aston Martin Valuable Points
The German former driver also acknowledged the success of Aston Martin at Silverstone, as both Stroll and his teammate Fernando Alonso secured points finishes, giving the team a critical double points haul in the 2025 championship. Schumacher praised Alonso’s continued skill despite his age and recognized the team’s ability to manage the difficult race conditions effectively.
“We are often criticised for being too harsh with him [Stroll], and perhaps at times this is true,” —Ralf Schumacher, Former F1 Driver
“In this regard, their entire team deserves high praise, because at Silverstone, both drivers earned the points.” —Ralf Schumacher, Former F1 Driver
Aston Martin currently sits eighth in the Constructors’ Championship, sharing 36 points with Racing Bulls and trailing the sixth-placed Sauber by five points, making every earned point crucial in the team standings battle.
Stroll Reflects on Car Performance and Race Outcome
After his initial outburst, Stroll spoke more calmly to the media about the performance of his car and the result achieved. He acknowledged the limitations of his vehicle, particularly the serious tyre wear he experienced, and explained how that made it difficult to compete with rivals like Sauber, who held an advantage in grip and pace.
“I think the result was good. I think we had a lot of degradation, and couldn’t really fight with that kind of degradation,” —Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Driver
He described the grip difference with the Sauber as significant and said the soft tyres he ran toward the end of the race were heavily degraded, making it tough to maintain control. Stroll also noted that the intermediate tyres cost him a large amount of race time compared to competitors.
“With that kind of deg it’s going to be hard to fight, but it’s a good result, good strategy calls. So that was good.” —Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Driver
Looking Ahead: The Implications for Aston Martin and Stroll
This episode highlights the ongoing challenges Aston Martin faces with the AMR25’s competitiveness in the current Formula 1 season. While Stroll’s raw honesty about the car’s difficulties was unfiltered, it has sparked debate about driver conduct and respect toward the team effort behind race weekends.
The result itself was a positive sign for Aston Martin, showing progress in securing points and competing amid harsh conditions at Silverstone. How Stroll reconciles his frustrations personally and publicly could impact team dynamics moving forward. With both drivers delivering solid performances relative to the machinery, further development efforts may prove critical in narrowing the gap to higher-ranking teams in the Constructors’ Championship.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Which F1 driver has a billionaire dad? Lance Stroll is the only driver with a billionaire father, Lawrence Stroll.
A. The parents of some F1 drivers are billionaires.
