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Teenager Stroll hits back at criticism

Published on 08 Mar 2017 17:24
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By: Fergal Walsh

Lance Stroll insists he is "ready" for Formula 1. However, the pressure is already piling on the 18-year-old rookie's young shoulders, following three mistakes including a crash in winter testing so far.

With his billionaire father, some think the Canadian is a 'pay driver' who is not ready for the much faster and more difficult new-generation cars of 2017.

"I know I'm ready," he protested to the Journal de Montreal newspaper in Barcelona. "I won championships before I arrived here. I have no doubt that I deserve my place in F1."

But some fans see Stroll as the 'new Pastor Maldonado', with a mocking and Maldonado-like Has Stroll Crashed Yet.com website already up and running.

Stroll insisted: "To get a super license, you must have earned the 40 points necessary, and I did that. People have a right to their opinion but I don't read what they say. My job is to drive a racing car. I worked hard to get here."

But even drivers who have supported Stroll's right to be in F1, like triple world champion Lewis Hamilton, have said 2017 is the worst possible time for a rookie to debut.

"I don't think that way," Stroll responded. "For sure I lack experience, but I feel good even though the cars have an exceptional amount of grip and are faster in the corners than before.

"F1 is the pinnacle of motor sport and I have prepared myself accordingly. I have no concerns about my ability to perform," he said.

ianf1

Posts: 185

If he starts going off during a race weekend, that will be the time to criticise him. Until them, leave him alone!

1
Mar 8 2017 - 17:47

F1 News Pastor Maldonado Lewis Hamilton Lance Stroll

Replies (5)

ianf1

Posts: 185
If he starts going off during a race weekend, that will be the time to criticise him. Until them, leave him alone!
- + 1
- Mar 8 2017 - 17:47
F1todayfan101

Posts: 120
Leave the lad alone! Drivers that don't crash don't know where the limit is. Calling him "the next Maldonado" is as absurd as Jean Todt thinking that hydrogen fuel has a future....
- + 0
- Mar 8 2017 - 18:39
mbmwe36

Posts: 533
At the end of the day, he is fair game. He is only in that seat because of the money, and - perhaps - potantial. But at the end of the day, there are quite a few young drivers who would be ahead of him, if it wasn't for tha cash he brings with him.
Calling him the next Maldonado is definitely not warranted, yet. But the whole ''you have to crash in order to find the limit'' is BS as well. The first test days of the year are not about finding limits, but rather about running programs and getting some miles into the car.
- + 1
- Mar 8 2017 - 18:50
- Zucht
  
  Posts: 814
  @MBMWE Absolutely agree that the kid should be given a fair chance and at the same time that you don't search the limits during testing
  + 0
  
  Mar 8 2017 - 20:24
Patentprutser

Posts: 390
You don't search for the limit on your first days of testing.
We had some young rookies last year, no one crashed this often during the first test sessions. He is a champion in other formula classesan d a talent but there is a limit on what you can do.
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- Mar 9 2017 - 09:22