Lance Stroll has explained how he has refined his approach to shutting out criticism throughout his career by focusing on the advice of those who know him best.
The Canadian driver has featured on the Formula 1 grid since 2017, when he made his debut with Williams and claimed a maiden podium at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, where he lost out on P2 to Valtteri Bottas in a photo finish.
After two seasons, he moved to Racing Point – a team that had been taken over by his businessman father Lawrence Stroll, leading to accusations that his contract was partly the result of his familial relationship with the new owner.
He has also faced criticism for his performances compared to team mates, with Sergio Perez, Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso all outscoring Stroll throughout their seasons with Racing Point and the subsequently rebranded Aston Martin respectively.
Speaking on the Unearth Your Greatness series created by the Silverstone based team, Stroll said: “I like to see it as just noise. If I buy into it, it bothers me, for sure, but that’s where I am fortunate I have good people around me that I love, that I trust, and I put my attention and value their opinions.
“I try and live in my world, not the world in that sense. There’s always going to be criticism. People are very short-minded. You have a couple of good races, you’re great. You have a couple of bad ones, you suck.
“That’s never going to change. That’s why being surrounded by important people and valuing the opinion of people that you care about, that you value. That you really know, their opinion is what matters. Don’t take criticism from someone you wouldn’t take advice from.”
Stroll has largely settled into the midfield with some strong performances, amassing three podiums and one pole position in his career so far, but he has recently struggled to maximise Aston Martin’s pace after they chose to prioritise their 2026 challenger as he finished this season in P16 with 33 points.
While his father is still the team’s Executive Chairman, there have been a host of changes in recent years, including new state-of-the-art facilities and legendary designer Adrian Newey stepping into the Team Principal role from next season.
There are hopes that they can return to fighting at the front of the pack, but the 27-year-old outlined how his rollercoaster career has helped him feel prepared for every eventuality, whether that’s competing for podiums or trying to break into the points.
“We can talk about the podiums and the pole, but let’s talk about the losses,” Stroll continued. “I think that’s where you learn the most about yourself to grow from those tough moments. I think that’s where you really grow as a person, as an athlete, as a driver, from those struggles.
“I want every day to be great and perfect, but that’s just not the reality of sport. In sports, in anything in life that you pursue, there’s going to be those highs and those lows.
“You have to accept that before you even go into it. Before every season, I think to myself, ‘There’s going to be good days and bad days and I have to accept that now.’
“We all love the champagne celebrations. But it’s really in those hard moments, in those tough times, that we really learn the most about ourselves and we grow.”
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