1997 Formula 1 world champion Jacques Villeneuve claims the ability for Lance Stroll to test in-season is ‘tough to take’.
After June’s Canadian Grand Prix, Stroll was able to test the 2014 FW36 at in the USA at the Circuit of the Americas as part of his programme with the Williams team.
At the following race in Azerbaijan, Stroll was noticeably much closer to team-mate Felipe Massa. The 18-year old had also managed to outqualify the much more experienced Brazilian for the first time.
“He did well, but also he’s the only driver who tests between races,” Villeneuve told Motorsport.com. “That’s a little bit tough to swallow. Money has to have a limit, and that’s pushing it.
“But apart from that, it [Baku] was the first race where he was not hanging on for dear life behind the steering wheel. He was actually relaxed behind the steering wheel, he was driving normal.
“Good, why would I criticise negatively that? But that doesn’t mean the beginning of the season was good.”
Villeneuve also refused to take back his comments on Stroll’s ‘pathetic’ form from the early part of the season, believing that the fortunes falling to the teenage have been more based on luck than skill.
“I always said until Montreal that it was pathetic, and it was. I always said he won in everything he did with work, and the same thing would probably happen here, as long as they look at reality in the face.
“The points in Montreal helped him. He wasn’t quick in Montreal, but everybody broke down, he kept his nose clean, he got points, and that took a weight off his shoulders. You could see it today. When everybody was banging into each other, he wasn’t, and his team-mate broke down as well.
“Yes, he was lucky, but he was also quick, he didn’t do any stupid things, and he got on the podium. Nothing wrong with that.
“You have to admit when you are not good enough. That’s all. So I don’t know why people are getting so upset. You can’t go out and say ‘he’s amazing’ when he’s a second off the pace of Massa.
“Look at last year. When [Max] Verstappen was to be criticised I would, and when it became good, I was positive with Lance. I won’t back down on what I said before because he wasn’t at the level. This race he was, very simple.”
