Aston Martin Lance Stroll’s Time in Formula 1 May Be Over—And It’s Long Overdue

Lance Stroll, the son of billionaire Lawrence Stroll, has raced in Formula 1 for nearly a decade. But after nine seasons, 174 Grands Prix, and endless second chances, fans and pundits alike are asking the same question: Why is he still here? With Aston Martin F1 facing mounting pressure and public scrutiny, this may be the moment the Stroll saga finally comes to an end—and many in the F1 world believe it’s long overdue.

Lance Stroll entered Formula 1 in 2017 as one of the most heavily funded rookies in motorsport history. Thanks to Lawrence Stroll’s financial power, Lance bypassed Formula 2 altogether and landed a seat at Williams Racing. Though he did score a surprise podium in Baku and even earned a pole position in Turkey 2020, the highlights are rare, and the lowlights plentiful.

Now 26, Lance Stroll holds an unwanted record: 78 Q1 eliminations, the most in modern F1. More damning, he’s been outqualified by teammate Fernando Alonso for 21 consecutive races. Even during the recent Spanish Grand Prix qualifying, where he reached Q2, it was Alonso who outshone him once again. A “sick note” meant Lance Stroll skipped Sunday’s race, only adding fuel to speculation that his commitment to F1 is fading.

Living His Father’s Dream, Not His Own

Many insiders believe Lance Stroll never truly wanted to be a Formula 1 driver. That dream belonged to his father. With Lawrence Stroll pumping hundreds of millions into teams like Racing Point and Aston Martin, Lance has benefited from unparalleled privilege—without delivering the results expected of an F1-caliber driver.

His early racing career was built on money and protection. From Ferrari’s Young Driver Academy at age 11 to dominating Formula 3 in a team handpicked and bankrolled by his father, critics argue his path was paved by cash, not craft. Allegations of favoritism, team orders, and performance-enhancing tech followed him up the ladder.

Despite a handful of decent drives, Lance Stroll’s inconsistency, lack of development, and poor attitude have made him one of the sport’s most polarizing figures. Many believe he ranks among the worst Formula 1 drivers of the 21st century, if not ever, when judged by output vs. investment.

 

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Pundits like GrandPrix247’s Paul Velasco have gone so far as to label him the “W.O.A.T.” — Worst Of All Time. A bold statement, but one gaining traction. Stroll’s aggressive on-track mistakes, like the 2025 Monaco penalty for ramming Charles Leclerc, and the Qatar incident where he shoved his trainer, haven’t helped his case.

Time to Move On

With Aston Martin investing in legendary engineer Adrian Newey and striving to become a title-contending team, many feel it’s time for Lance Stroll to step aside—for the good of the sport and his own legacy. He could transition to the World Endurance Championship (WEC) or even explore fashion, following his mother Claire-Anne’s path.

Either way, Formula 1 deserves drivers who earn their place. And after nine turbulent years, Lance Stroll may finally be off the road.