Williams have announced the signing of Lance Stroll to the team’s development programme for nest season.
The 17-year old raced in the FIA Formula Three European Championship this season, being crowned champion of the Toyota Racing Series in New Zealand over the winter.
The Canadian has made a switch from the Ferrari academy to the Williams academy, hoping to take up a similar development role that Finn Valtteri Bottas did.
As stated in Williams’ press release, the team outlined Stroll’s role in the team: “The programme includes extensive simulator time, work placements in several departments throughout the factory, as well as specific training in the fields of race engineering and marketing.”
Williams, who are currently third in the Constructors’ Championship, have announced that Stroll will continue to participate in the Formula Three European Championship next year. This has put an end to rumours suggesting that he will move to either GP3 or GP2.
The young Canadian said: “I’m really honoured to be part of such a great team and one with so much history and success, I cannot wait to start working with Williams and very much hope we can achieve great things together in the coming years.”
“It’s a very exciting and crucial time in my short motor racing career. Reaching F1 was always the ultimate goal, I suppose ever since driving a go-kart my father had bought me for my fifth birthday.”
“Williams has a long history of nurturing young drivers at the start of their F1 careers. David Coulthard, Jenson Button, Nico Rosberg, Nico Hülkenberg and most recently Valtteri. This element was something that was important to me in making the decision to join Williams.”
“I won the Italian Formula 4 Championship last season in my first year of car racing after karts, won the Toyota Racing Series at the beginning of 2015 and finished fifth in the FIA European Formula 3 Championship in my first year which, having also won a race, hit my pre-season target. My future is now with Williams, which I’m very excited about.”
Claire Williams, the deputy team principal, said that she was very pleased to see a new face in the team. “At Williams, we are committed to using our resource and expertise to help talented young drivers to reach their potential.”
“We have a track record of success in this area, having supported Valtteri Bottas in his growth from a development driver role to a race driver and one of the most respected talents in Formula One.
“We have identified Lance as a promising talent for the future and we are happy to provide our support to his development as a driver. We look forward to working with Lance in 2016 and to the success he can achieve in the future.”
