1997 Formula One World Champion Jacques Villeneuve has recently made some pointed comments about Lance Stroll, suggesting that the younger Stroll’s commitment to the sport may be lacking.

The comments were made in an article in F1 Insider, which speculated that Stroll’s time in F1 could be coming to an end after a less than stellar season with Aston Martin, where his father Lawrence Stroll is Executive Chairman.

Stroll surrounded by controversy

The controversy didn’t end there. Lawrence Stroll’s reported $80 million investment in the Williams F1 team to facilitate Lance’s entry into F1 was another major point of contention. This generous sponsorship deal was instrumental in Lance securing a seat in F1, making him the first Canadian driver on the grid since Jacques Villeneuve, the 1997 world champion, retired in 2006.

While Stroll’s entry was a proud moment for Canadian motorsport fans, it also intensified the debate over ‘pay drivers’ – competitors who secure their seats through financial backing rather than merit alone.

F1 engine deal may stall Andretti progress

Fathers’ backing questioned

While the exact amount of Lawrence Stroll’s investment has not been publicly confirmed, the very idea that a massive injection of cash was required to bring Lance into the sport has made him a controversial figure among fans and pundits alike. Many believe that these resources have given him a level of security and opportunity in F1 that is not available to equally or more talented drivers without such substantial financial backing.

Lance Stroll has shown moments of skill and promise throughout his F1 career, including podium finishes, that suggest he has the talent to compete at this level. However, lingering questions about the role his father’s wealth has played in his career trajectory mean that every success is scrutinised and every failure magnified in debates about his true ability and right to occupy a seat at the pinnacle of motorsport.

Latest ‘pointless’ FIA regulation

Questions over Stroll’s motivation

Over the years, some analysts have questioned whether Lance Stroll was ever truly self-motivated to pursue a career in racing, or if it was more a path chosen by his father. Villeneuve, who has known Lance since childhood and lived near the Stroll family in Montreal, has added fuel to this line of questioning with his recent comments.

Known for his outspokenness, Villeneuve said: “Lawrence built his son a private karting track just a 15-minute walk from their home. However, Lance used to take a helicopter to the track every day”.

While it’s unclear whether a helicopter was actually used to reach a nearby karting track, Villeneuve’s comments are likely to resonate, coming as they do from Canada’s last F1 champion. Certainly, the comments are clearly an indicator that Lance has more money than anything else, possibly including motivation.

READ MORE: 1st team boss goes public on Andretti F1 approval

MORE F1 NEWS: Hamilton told to put up or shut up over diversity

Earlier this year, Lewis Hamilton gave an interview to Sky F1 where he admitted he felt like a “lone ranger” as his motorsport career developed. His push for diversity in Formula One is not about finding the next black driver, he said, but about making the sport more inclusive in general.

Speaking to Mike Wedderburn the seven times champion claimed…READ MORE ON THIS STORY