Thema der Woche in the build-up to the German Grand Prix at Hockenheim has been talk of Lance Stroll’s billionaire father Lawrence Stroll seeking to strike a deal to take over the Force India team or at least find a way to move his son away from the beleaguered Williams outfit.
Sources in the paddock suggest a deal is currently being thrashed out between the parties and is expected to be completed before the summer break and an announcement due thereafter, which will result in the 19-year-old donning pink next season.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Stroll was asked about the Force India option, to which he replied, “I’m not going to comment in detail on all that kind of stuff, I’m really just focussing on every weekend – where I am right now, the racing. There is plenty going on.”
“I don’t know yet what I’m doing or where my future is going. I’m still focused on where I am right now, what I’m doing today and we’ll see what the future holds.”
From an impressive rookie season for the teenager with a useful if not a great car he gave a good account of himself. But a year down the road and its utter frustration for the young Canadian and his rookie teammate Sergey Sirotkin. They simply cannot show their talent in a car they have no faith in and has been described as “evil” by team chief Claire Williams.
Stroll continued, “Right now, I think there is a lot of unfinished business in Formula 1 for me. I got to experience some amazing highlights as a rookie last year and some difficult times as well, which I expected coming into my rookie year but all in all a great rookie season.”
“And this year, I think we are all quite surprised, shocked by the performance of the package and where we are. So I don’t think it’s time to end it on this kind of note. I would like to see us improve and get to where we want to get to as a team.”
“I also want to do what’s best for me as a driver, so we will come to all the conclusions at the right time and figure out what’s best for the future,” added Stroll.
With Vijay Mallya’s crumbling empire being bombarded, he will soon have to relinquish the team. The underfire tycoon has made it quite clear it is for sale but only at the right price.
Word is that Stroll and the team’s sponsors BWT, perhaps as a consortium, are drafting an offer which Mallya is unlikely to refuse.