Lance Stroll has given some insight into how much he has grown as an F1 driver since his arrival on the grid almost 10 years ago, as well as highlighting the key lessons he has picked up along the way.
Stroll made his debut as an 18-year-old with Williams back in 2017, becoming the second-youngest starter in the sport’s history (behind Max Verstappen), while achieving a podium finish and front-row grid slot across that rookie season.
He moved to Racing Point for 2019, scoring his maiden pole position and two more podiums the following year, and remained with the outfit through their transition to Aston Martin’s works squad in 2021 – the automotive brand owned by his businessman father, Lawrence.
Stroll has experienced further highs and lows over the last few seasons, with 2026 proving particularly tough for the Aston Martin operation – and new power unit partners Honda – under F1’s regulation reset.
In a recent interview for the official Aston Martin F1 website, Stroll tackled a host of topics about his approach to competition on and off the track, and how he has changed from the teenager who debuted to the 27 year old he is today.
Asked how much he has learned during his time in F1, the Canadian replied: “A lot. Different driving tactics, things around car set-up, dealing with changing conditions, tricks at different racetracks to gain lap time.
“As you spend more time in Formula 1, you realise how much of the sport is about confidence and feeling. That’s one of the constant challenges, because every season is different. You’re always learning, adapting and trying to evolve together with the car and the team around you.
“And physically, too – understanding what I need to be at my best during race weekends, how to manage the season mentally and physically. Those are all things you improve over time.”
Pushed on how he deals with the difficult moments, Stroll continued: “You have to stay grounded and keep perspective. In Formula 1, things move very quickly.
A few months can completely change the picture, so if you get too emotional with either the highs or the lows, it’s difficult to stay focused on what actually matters.
“As drivers, we all want to be fighting at the front. When you’re going through tougher periods, of course it’s frustrating because everyone in the team is working incredibly hard and wants more. But those moments are also part of building something.
“You’ve got to keep working, stay honest about where you need to improve and trust the process, even when the results aren’t immediately there.”
With that in mind, Stroll took a moment to reflect on Aston Martin’s challenging start to 2026, while highlighting why he “firmly believes” the team will eventually reach their goals of fighting for race wins and world titles.
“We’ve got some incredibly talented people at the AMR Technology Campus and there’s huge potential with the tools like the new CoreWeave AIR Tunnel and the simulator,” he commented.
“We have all the elements to become a winning team, it’s just about unlocking that potential.
“I firmly believe in this project, even though right now we’re experiencing some difficult times. The future is very bright and I want to ride this tough spell out and be part of the journey we’re on.”
