Lance Stroll’s improved qualifying result is now being (as reported yesterday by TJ13) attributed to a private test at Austin in the ’14 Williams and, as suggested by Peter Windsor some sessions with noted F1 driver whisperer Rob Wilson.
Whatever the reason Baku for the Canadian will be taken as a win. Stroll the younger is now the second youngest racer ever on the podium after Dutchman Max Verstappen, who was 18 years 228 days old when he won the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix and the first Canadian to finish on the podium since Jacques Villeneuve came third, the last of his 23 podium finishes, in the German Grand Prix in 2001..
Perhaps the turning point in Strolls race was the choice by Hamilton, Vettel, Perez, Raikkonen, Massa, Ocon, Verstappen all to stop for Soft tyres. With Max stranded in the pits with engine failure, Stroll was almost gifted a jump to P3.
There is no doubt that the ensuing chaos that TJ13 have labeled “The Battle in Baku” resulting in retirements, punctures from debris, extra pit stops, red flags and multiple safety cars all worked in the Canadians favour, and soon he was in P2, but we should not take anything away from his driving. Luck is rarely of any use unless it is backed up with some talent.
“It was such a hectic race and I kept my head cool, the team kept me cool over the radio and we took it to the end.”
Stroll reported after the race.
Stroll managed to keep hold of 2nd place until the last second where Bottas pipped him at the line is what must be one of the latest overtakes in years.
“It was a bit disappointing at the end to lose P2 but all in all an amazing race. I started to feel the rear going away so I knew it was going to be tricky to keep the pace.”
After the race Stroll told Sky Sports:
“You dream of being on an F1 podium, you work towards that and it finally comes true”
I bet drinking fizz out of a sweaty Aussie shoe was never part of his dream’s, but he could hardly refuse, and I doubt will ever forget. Especially after spitting out “the bits” pulling a face.. well only a father could love.
INITIATION: mmm, toenail… Stroll spits out “bits” from Ricci’s shoe.
#SteveBarbyF1
All credit to Stroll, though he certainly benefited from a lot of other factors that happened on track. What to me was actually more significant was him out qualifying Massa.
Still got to be in the right place to benefit…
I agree. You play the cards you’re dealt.
That shoeey stuff has gotta end. Im Aussie and it gross me out mate.
I said it before:
Earlier I called stroll a “flapdrol” but I stand corrected.
It does remind me about a thought I had since long: if you “learn something” every time you drive an f1 car on track, why aren’t the top teams and drivers banging around thousands of miles in old cars? Yes, they’re different but there’s no training like in football where you can practice anytime as long as you have a ball.
You learn something on how the car behaves, the old car is not the same so you don’t learn anything setup wise.
The old cars are handy to teach how to drive a F1 car. Some of the rookies need the extra lessons in racing. Probably it is something you can’t get from a simulator like how the car feels. Years back Williams used Wurz as coach for the rookies and I believe Grosjean got some extra lessons from Jackie Stewart on how to position your car on the track.