Aston Martin chief gives Lance Stroll verdict as departure rumours whirl

Aston Martin team principal Mike Krack has reiterated the team’s support for driver Lance Stroll, batting off any chance of a departure for the Canadian and citing bad luck as the main reason for his low points tally compared to team-mate Fernando Alonso.

The 24-year-old Canadian’s campaign has been a frustrating one from the off with Aston Martin forced to call upon reigning Formula 2 champion Felipe Drugovich to complete pre-season testing in his place following a serious cycling accident.

Driving through his injuries in Bahrain, Stroll produced an impressive drive with a P6 finish, but his performances beyond the opening race of the season have been concerning. With the summer break now underway, the Montreal-born driver has just 47 points to his name, compared to Alonso’s 149. 

Speaking to the Aston Martin website, Krack explained: “Lance showed what a fighter he is when he jumped back in the car with broken wrists and a broken toe. The heart it took to do that lifted everyone and got us going in a really positive frame of mind.

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“Lance hasn’t had a lot of luck this year. Aside from his broken bones, a few things have gone against him that really weren’t his fault. The championship table tells a story, but inside the team, we know what really happens.” 

To an extent, Krack’s words ring true. The Canadian driver suffered a mechanical DNF following a promising start in Saudi Arabia, and unfortunately-timed safety cars have cost him more points in recent races.

That said, fans are yet to forget his miserable outing in Monaco earlier this season, while some sloppy wheel-to-wheel racing with Pierre Gasly at the team’s home race at Silverstone ended any hopes of a positive weekend there.

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Stroll’s performances have at least improved relative to Alonso, but with the AMR23 no longer the podium-winning force that it was during the opening six rounds of the year, the opportunities for the Canadian to close the massive gulf in points between himself and the two-time world champion seem to have passed.

Fortunately for Stroll, with his father Lawrence steering the ship, it is highly unlikely that his place on the grid will be up for debate, even if his performance level fails to improve during the second half of the campaign.

Such is the nature of being employed by your own father, the duration of Stroll’s current contract is unknown, although it is believed that the Canadian star is set to drive for Aston Martin once again in 2024, extending his partnership with the team into a sixth season.

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