Lance Stroll became the first Formula 1 driver to record 100 Q1 eliminations after qualifying last for the 2026 Italian Grand Prix at Monza.
The Aston Martin driver ended the session just under a tenth down on team-mate Fernando Alonso. The AMR26 struggled for outright speed, running consistently slower than the rival Mercedes cars around the high-speed Italian circuit.
Aston Martin Qualifying Slumps
Stroll surpassed Kevin Magnussen’s previous record of 74 early exits during the 2025 season. The Canadian was wholly unsurprised by the latest result.
“It was what we expected [with the] engine,” Stroll said. “We’re three seconds off, so we’re not going to stay with the pack tomorrow.”
Persistent early exits severely hamper Aston Martin in the current constructors’ championship. Honda supplies Aston Martin for the 2026 campaign. Ongoing technical demands for higher performance outputs could eventually force the team to evaluate long-term options alongside Alonso.
Stark Contrast To Past Success
This latest milestone sits in sharp contrast to his 2020 Turkish Grand Prix pole position. Driving the competitive Racing Point RP20, Stroll did not suffer a single drop in the first qualifying phase throughout that entire year. The official tally includes sessions without a set time, rather than just instances where he “finished 16th or lower with a recorded Q1 lap.”
Stroll will line up at the back of the grid for Sunday’s race as Aston Martin attempts to salvage points.
