Lance Stroll experienced a frustrating outcome at the Canadian Grand Prix on Sunday, finishing 17th and failing to score points for the first time in his career at this event. The Montreal-born driver, racing for Aston Martin, was also handed a 10-second penalty for blocking Alpine’s Pierre Gasly, which impacted his final position significantly.
Challenges During the Race and Qualifying Setback
Starting from 17th on the grid, Stroll struggled to gain ground during the race. His difficulties began in qualifying when a red flag interrupted the first session, preventing him from setting a faster lap on medium tires, which he believes compromised his chances of a strong finish.
“From the back, it was always going to be difficult today,”
Stroll admitted.
“Just a challenging day. I have no positives to take away from this race.”
At the race’s start, Stroll slipped to 18th place and never found a consistent pace during his initial stint on hard tires. After a pit stop, he managed to overtake Gasly, but the Alpine driver quickly tried to reclaim his position, forcing Stroll to leave little room. Gasly was forced onto the grass to avoid a collision, leading race stewards to issue a 10-second penalty to Stroll, which he served during his second pit stop. This penalty pushed him to last place, making it impossible for him to catch up before the late safety car effectively ended any comeback hopes.
Stroll Reflects on Penalty and Car Performance
Regarding the penalty, Stroll expressed uncertainty, stating,
“I have to look at it. I don’t know.”
Throughout the race, he felt he was not competitive, adding that he didn’t notice any improvements in the Aston Martin’s performance compared to his teammates.
“I don’t really feel any difference in the car,”
he remarked.
“Maybe he’s just been getting good results and he feels good in the car because of that. But I felt pretty slow today.”
Teammate’s Performance Highlights Contrast
In contrast, Stroll’s teammate Fernando Alonso secured seventh place, earning points for the second race in a row after the team introduced upgrades at the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix. The experienced Spaniard’s success highlighted the difficulties Stroll faced, underscoring the uneven performance within the team during the Canadian round.
Implications of Stroll’s Results at the Canadian Grand Prix
Stroll’s disappointing finish ending his streak of points at the Canadian GP may increase pressure on both the driver and Aston Martin to improve race strategy and vehicle performance, especially on a track where Stroll has previously found success. With the next races approaching, there will be a strong focus on addressing the setbacks experienced in Montreal to boost competitiveness in upcoming events.
