Discussion
Jacques Villeneuve, like myself, gave Stroll the benefit of the doubt as he was announced as Williams driver. Yes, it was common knowledge that Papa Stroll was paying an unprecedented (?) amount of money to put him there but Lance does at least have some racing achievements to his name even if they too were bought and paid for to an extent. Many people are still finding bits of egg up their nostrils having panned 'too young' Max Verstappen.
Being that Stroll scored his first points at the weekend, fellow Canadian Villeneuve's proclamation that Lance Stroll might be the worst rookie in F1 history is as curiously timed as it is scathing.
I too have changed my opinion. Lance is not ready for F1. It puts me on edge to see onboard video from his car- he looks exactly like a wide-eyed kid with far too much car under him, even if out of the car he is managing the disappointments and criticisms very professionally.
Papa Stroll's significant donation also ensured that Lance wouldn't be teamed with another young driver who would show him up so instead he is being shown up by out-of-retirement Felipe Massa.
I am still waiting for significant improvement from Lance for Williams' sake... but I will be astounded if he finds himself gainfully employed in the sport at any point?
Being that Stroll scored his first points at the weekend, fellow Canadian Villeneuve's proclamation that Lance Stroll might be the worst rookie in F1 history is as curiously timed as it is scathing.
I too have changed my opinion. Lance is not ready for F1. It puts me on edge to see onboard video from his car- he looks exactly like a wide-eyed kid with far too much car under him, even if out of the car he is managing the disappointments and criticisms very professionally.
Papa Stroll's significant donation also ensured that Lance wouldn't be teamed with another young driver who would show him up so instead he is being shown up by out-of-retirement Felipe Massa.
I am still waiting for significant improvement from Lance for Williams' sake... but I will be astounded if he finds himself gainfully employed in the sport at any point?
I suppose from Papa Stroll's viewpoint you could look at funding the conventional route of a couple of years in GP2, plus another in a Sauber, to try and get him into a team like Williams.
I guess like us, he now knows that son is just not as good as Max, or even Ocon.
Papa now knows that inheritance planning for the family business is probably a smarter career move for Lance.
Why the heck Williams took the gamble remains a mystery. Force India, releasing Bottas, re-employing Massa and Lance are making them look incredibly dumb this year.
I guess like us, he now knows that son is just not as good as Max, or even Ocon.
Papa now knows that inheritance planning for the family business is probably a smarter career move for Lance.
Why the heck Williams took the gamble remains a mystery. Force India, releasing Bottas, re-employing Massa and Lance are making them look incredibly dumb this year.
Vocal Minority said:
Villeneuve is just a rent-a-gob these days.
Pity considering his on paper achievements - but he hung around for too long an post 1997 never really backed up the lip he gave everything with a performance.
He's the motorsport equivalent of Katie Hopkins as far as I see him. Haven't considered his opinion valid on anything since he slated Andy Scott and Albatec following his attempt at WRX, particularly when Villeneuve himself couldn't be arsed to turn up 95% of the time. Pity considering his on paper achievements - but he hung around for too long an post 1997 never really backed up the lip he gave everything with a performance.
Stroll is turning out exactly as many in the know said he would off the record (for those who may have had or have a fiscal interest) and on the record for those that don't care how much money Papa Stroll has.
That said there have been worse and he is still young.
I mean who thought that Jolyon Palmer would be in F1 this year based on his first half year in 2016?
That said there have been worse and he is still young.
I mean who thought that Jolyon Palmer would be in F1 this year based on his first half year in 2016?
FourWheelDrift said:
Ironically his Uncle, Jacques Villenuve Snr was arguably worse than Stroll.
As were many others who never qualified or pre-qualified for a race being 2-3s slower than team mates who did like Claudio Langes, 14 races, 14 times not pre-qualified.
I read an article in Motorsport Magazine recently which argued that Jacques senior was possibly better than his big brother, but that his career in F1 stalled due to poor career choices, bad luck and lack of political awareness. Certainly he had very good results in North American single seater racing.As were many others who never qualified or pre-qualified for a race being 2-3s slower than team mates who did like Claudio Langes, 14 races, 14 times not pre-qualified.
It also said that Jacques junior and senior don't talk any more.
At the risk of sounding like a total moron - I always forget Jacques is Gilles' son. For some bizarre reason despite being racers having the same name and the tiny issue of knowing for a fact they are father and son - my mind just seems to refuse to acknowledge it until I'm reminded.
Anyway - whilst I know he was lucky to get up there from the general chaos - and he was de-bagged a bit over the line - it was a very solid, grown up effort from Stroll yesterday.
Not saying he is a mega star of the future, but he has turned in a brace of respectable, solid performances after a distinctly wobbly start.
Anyway - whilst I know he was lucky to get up there from the general chaos - and he was de-bagged a bit over the line - it was a very solid, grown up effort from Stroll yesterday.
Not saying he is a mega star of the future, but he has turned in a brace of respectable, solid performances after a distinctly wobbly start.
Called it in Friday testing over in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix thread;
I don't think a miracle has occurred but I think we can expect to see Stroll appearing in more Q3s and scoring more points from now on.
HustleRussell said:
Stroll's Canada confidence boost has helped, he's only 7/10ths slower than Massa- and I presume Baku is new to him?
Mixed feelings about the race, I wanted Massa and the Force Indias in the race, once again we also lost Verstappen etc... but meanwhile, Lance Stroll managed to dodge all the carnage, keep it pointing in the right direction and bring it home for a podium.I don't think a miracle has occurred but I think we can expect to see Stroll appearing in more Q3s and scoring more points from now on.
Adrian W said:
One of the Sky team was waffling on about Stroll being the real deal and not there because of daddies cash, rubbish, of course the only reason he is there is the cash, he got third because everyone else crashed, went bang, fell off, or bumped into each other
Agreed. But a couple of weeks scoring points gives the team another good excuse to keep him & the cash.
There was a section on R5 Live before Montreal and all the contributors agreed he was well out of his depth.
DanielSan said:
Don't forget the small matter it doing a load of testing in a '14 car in Texas after the Canadian GP... I don't see any other rookies getting in season testing.
Any of them can in an older car, Ferrari have always done DanielSan said:
Don't forget the small matter it doing a load of testing in a '14 car in Texas after the Canadian GP... I don't see any other rookies getting in season testing.
Other than perhaps Lewis Hamilton ...Andrew Benson on the BBC website said:
The 18-year-old Canadian has had the red carpet rolled out for him through his career so far, his billionaire father's wealth buying him not only the best equipment on the way up, but now a place at Williams and more testing than any rookie has had since Hamilton entered the sport in 2007.
Adrian W said:
One of the Sky team was waffling on about Stroll being the real deal and not there because of daddies cash, rubbish, of course the only reason he is there is the cash, he got third because everyone else crashed, went bang, fell off, or bumped into each other
I found it all a bit patronising, he's a f
king formula one driver its the minimal expectation to be able to drive around and if enough people fall off pick up a result. Its not like he pulled off any blinding overtakes or nursed a failing car or kept his cool with a hard charging hothead up his ass for 50 laps. Gassing Station | Formula 1 | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff