- Lance Stroll claims modern Formula 1 cars lack authentic driving character.
- The Aston Martin driver finds Formula 3 machinery more enjoyable.
- Ongoing reliability issues further dampen Stroll’s enthusiasm for the season.
Aston Martin driver, Lance Stroll, recently made a shocking admission about F1, comparing the drive under the new regulations to being less fun than an F3 car. Over the break, he revealed that he tested some F3 cars and thoroughly enjoyed it. While he acknowledges the evolving changes benefit F1 as a business, he believes drivers know when they’re in a proper car and at present they aren’t good.
This year, Aston Martin is struggling massively, as its Honda engine issues continue to persist. This is holding back the drivers from completing the race fully or securing any points. They often end up laps behind the entire grid, or their race ends in DNF. One of the major problems the car is dealing with is vibration issues, causing discomfort to the drivers. Other issues also include poor reliability, battery failures, and overweight issues.
Stroll takes a subtle jab at F1 new regs
In a recent conversation, Stroll revealed that he drove F3 cars over the break and believes they are 1,000 times more fun and better than F1 cars. He mentioned that in these cars, one has control and puts in the required efforts, getting their expected results ultimately. Detailing why the modern-day changes could be good for F1 but not for drivers, he added, “F1 is a business, and they want to protect their business and make it look good, and we’re drivers, and we know what it feels like to drive good cars.”
The new regs introduced the hybrid power split between the internal combustion engine (ICE) and electrical energy, which forces drivers to focus on energy management, battery deployment and recovery, and managing their approach through corners and along the straights.
Revealing how it had stripped away the essence of a real drive, he elaborated, ” Everyone hears the sound of the V8, V10 era and is going like: ‘Wow, that is amazing, that is F1 when you hear it’ and now, de-rating into a corner, I’m downshifting going into a corner with no character or no noise. It is fake.”
Lance Stroll explored the GT3 opportunity over the break, too
Last month, Stroll participated in the GT World Challenge powered by AWS at Circuit Paul Ricard, pairing with Roberto Merhi and Mari Boya. He drove for Comtoyou Racing in the Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 EVO (No. 18). They finished in 48th position and received penalties of over 8 minutes. They were for ignoring blue flags, exceeding track limits, and Boya’s involvement in a collision led to a stop-and-go penalty.
