Force India: Lance Stroll confirms switch from Williams
Last updated on .From the section Formula 1
Canadian driver Lance Stroll is to race for Force India in 2019.
His move from Williams, for whom he made his debut in 2017, has been Formula 1's worst-kept secret since his father bought Force India in August.
Canadian billionaire Lawrence Stroll rescued the team from administration as head of a consortium and is expected to change their name.
His 20-year-old son will partner Mexican Sergio Perez, who was confirmed as a driver in October.
"This is the beginning of an incredibly exciting journey in my Formula 1 career," Stroll said.
His appointment means all 20 seats for next season are now confirmed.
"I'm pleased that we can finally confirm Lance's arrival to race alongside Sergio next year," team principal Otmar Szafnauer said.
"It gives us an exciting line-up with the perfect blend of youth, talent, and experience. Lance is only 20 and already has two years of Formula 1 experience under his belt, as well as a podium finish and a front row start.
"We see huge potential in Lance and believe we can create an environment in which he can flourish."
Stroll has a best result of third, achieved at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in 2017, and a best qualifying position of fourth, at the Italian Grand Prix that year.
However, other than the odd highlight, he has been unconvincing in his two seasons so far and Williams are not unhappy to see him go, despite the tens of millions the Stroll family invested in the team.
Williams have signed highly rated British rookie George Russell to race alongside Poland's Robert Kubica, a former grand prix winner who is returning after an eight-year absence following a rally crash in 2011 that left him with partial movement in his right arm.
Who is driving which car next year?
Comments
Join the conversation
"Yes son..."
"Can you buy me a formula 1 team?"
"Yeah, sure."
A relatively flukey podium in Baku aside, Stroll has never shown anything to suggest he's even an average driver.
There's no one on the grid called lulu? Don't understand your comment..
"Good or bad driver aside, he is contributing towards the cooking of our planet in a sport with horrible polluting engines.
#plantpower"
I know, isn't it fantastic? Soon we'll be able to have a summer holiday here in Blighty, in the middle of winter.
In fact, I may just go out right now and drive around for an hour to hurry things along.
:-)
As for facts: When is "a best qualifying position of fourth" the same as "a front row start" ??
Maybe front row of the shopping trolleys at Sobeys ??
Translation.
"We're delighted to keep our teams financial backer happy by employing his bang average driver son to replace the needlessly unseated hot prospect we just got rid of."
However that's as good as it gets. He's the worst qualifier on the grid, even Sirotkin had his number there. He's generally slow after Lap 1'
Hmmm....as a racing driver, let alone F1 that's absolute trash then
The Hulk must be under pressure at Renault as Danny Ric will be ultra fast.
Is Gasly the real deal ? We will soon find out against Max..
How long will Kvyat last this time before upsetting Helmut Marko ?
Lando Norris will be as quick as Sainz in my opinion
Its going to be fascinating.
In real news I'm looking forward to seeing Leclerc in action next year in a hopefully competitive Ferrari. Thanks to Leclerc having some real driver skills, I think Vettel is going to find out he isn't as good as he thinks he is.