Stroll spoilt brat antics in Qatar under FIA investigation
F1 NewsWednesday, 11 October 2023 at 09:10
Lance Stroll was embarrassing in Qatar, in fact, relative to his Aston Martin teammate Fernando Alonso, the billionaire pay driver's performance is beyond shameful, and now he is under investigation for his putrid behaviour.
Everyone saw on live TV, after another failure in qualifying, 24-year-old Stroll alighting his Aston Martin in anger that included (it appeared) shoving his own physio, throwing his steering wheel out of the car plus failure to complete media duties adequately and swearing during the TV broadcast interviews - all actions that could land the Canadian in hot water.
The FIA said in a statement on Monday: "The FIA Compliance Officer is in discussion with Lance Stroll in relation to several incidents that may have contravened FIA rules, policies and procedures during the Qatar Grand Prix."
Antics they will be investigating include: Stroll throwing his steering wheel out of the cockpit, physical violence plus failure to complete media duties adequately and swearing during the TV broadcast interview
Many believe Stroll has a drive in Formula 1 because big bucks Papa Lawrence Stroll bought him a seat and is attempting to turn Aston Martin into a top team, despite his son proving to be unsuitable for the top flight.
Sky F1: It's totally inappropriate, you cannot behave in that way
Sky F1 reports how Stroll behaved badly during his mandatory post-qualifying duties, using six words to explain his afternoon, after which their correspondent Naomi Schiff reported: "It's totally inappropriate, you cannot behave in that way.
"No matter how disappointing your day has been, those are the people who work to get you on track, to make it happen for you, you can't be treating your team like that. It's one thing to have a bad day, come out of the car and apologise.
"But to come out and act that way is just not good enough. He's clearly distressed. We have to empathise because he's a human being, he's got his emotions. He's going through something but that doesn't make it OK. You have to act better.
"Felipe Drugovich [Aston Martin's reserve driver] is in the wings and he would be more than grateful to be in that car and won't behave that way," suggested Schiff.
Stroll's frustration is sure to stem from being mercilessly pummeled, and shown up, by Alonso - a driver nearly twice Lance's age - and in F1 with nowhere to hide, and his presence in the grid is increasingly questionable. He is not getting any better, in fact, it can be argued he was a much better driver a couple of seasons ago.
Chandhok: The reality is Stroll has scored less than a third of Alonso's points so far
At 24, and 140 Grand Prix starts to his name, Stroll's benchmark of his generation is none other than Max Verstappen, and it's fair to say that, despite early signs of magic in his days at Racing Point, the Canadian has faded into a driver not worthy of being in F1 anymore. He had his chance, he is not the real deal. And is simply not improving.
After 17 Rounds, Aston Martin have 230 points and lie fourth in the 2023 F1 Constructors' standings. Stroll scored only 47 of those points, Alonso (183 points) bagging the rest. Furthermore, the veteran Spaniard is 15-2 ahead in qualifying. And, of course, that's not counting all the bent metal that Junior is costing Papa Stroll and the team.
Final reality check, on Stroll's performances (or lack thereof to be more precise, to Karun Chndhuk who aptly sums up the crisis: "It's cost them in the constructors' championship. Earlier in the year, we were looking at them being second in the constructors and they are likely to end up fifth with the way McLaren have caught up with them.
"The reality is he has scored less than a third of Alonso's points. McLaren have benefitted that they two drivers racking up the points and it's allowed them to catch up," reckoned Chandhok.
Big Question: What next for Lance Stroll?
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