Teenage rookie Lance Stroll has revealed that Michael Schumacher was his Formula 1 hero that he looked up to throughout his junior 'career' and admits he knows a thing or two about the history of the sport.
Speaking to F1i, Stroll said, "Growing up, my hero in racing, I would say was Michael Schumacher. Jacques [Villeneuve], I think won the championship a year before I was born, it's a bit before my time!"
"I know a bit of my history and I've obviously watched some races from the past with Mansell, Villeneuve, Prost and all those guys."
The eighteen year old Canadian will make his debut for Williams this season amid concerns that he may be well out of his depth with the new era cars that will be tougher and faster to drive.
Stroll acknowledged, "2017 is going to be full of challenges, new cars, new regulations. But, as it is my first year, I'm not going to focus on winning the world championship, I'm just going to do the best that I can."
"It's actually a dream come true, to be a Formula 1 driver, but then to actually go to Melbourne, go out in FP1, qualifying and the race, it's incredible. I can't really tell you how I feel because I don't know myself. I'll tell you after."
Unlike many F1 rookies who begin their careers with backmarker teams, Stroll has been fast-tracked into the Williams which has an illustrious history in the sport.
"It just feels like I'm joining a real racing family, that's the best way to put it. I've seen the first car ever built by Williams, Montoya's car, Prost's and all these amazing cars and you just feel like you're part of this chain of history," explained the soon to be youngest driver on the grand prix grid.
Latest News
Loading
