Eddie Jordan admits he’s changed his mind about 25-year-old F1 driver he never used to rate

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Former F1 team principal Eddie Jordan has admitted that he’s changed his mind on Aston Martin driver Lance Stroll this season.

Jordan was chatting with David Coulthard on the Formula For Success Podcast.

The pair were reflecting on the 2023 Formula 1 season after Max Verstappen dominated the field.

No one got close to the Dutchman but further down the grid, there was plenty to fight for.

Going into the final race of the season, Mercedes and Ferrari were competing for the runners-up spot, while McLaren were trying to hold off Aston Martin for fourth place in the Constructors’ Championship.

Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri came out on top, although both Aston Martins finished in the points in Abu Dhabi.

Fernando Alonso has led the team brilliantly this year and looked on course in the early stages of the season to challenge the Red Bulls, scoring six podiums in the first eight races.

Aston Martin didn’t quite get their upgrades right during the season but Alonso continued to score minor points.

Lance Stroll struggled compared to his more experienced teammate but saw a late resurgence towards the end of the campaign.

Eddie Jordan has admitted that he has changed his mind on Stroll after initially writing him off as a Formula 1 driver.

He has a unique relationship with his team given his father Lawrence Stroll is the chairman of Aston Martin.

But Jordan now believes he’s earned his spot on the grid.

Jordan has changed his mind on Stroll

Speaking about Aston Martin’s fortunes this season and how they used to be Eddie Jordan’s team, he said: “It is a pity, it’s a very, very difficult job.

“I remember having one of the few rocks that I’ve had, I remember Lawrence Stroll coming to me to say, why did you say on Channel 4 I think I said would Lance Stroll get a drive without his father’s help or influence?

“And he wasn’t happy about that. I’ll now come back to that and I’ll say that he does warrant and justify his position in Formula 1.

“But he’s never going to be a number one driver from what I can see at the moment.”

While Stroll might have initially changed Jordan’s mind about his suitability to be in F1, he may have a point when it comes to the Canadian being a lead driver.

Given the quality of the grid right now, it’s hard to see where he would be a leader on the grid.

Even the likes of Alex Albon in a worse car is more clearly a number one driver right now, although how long he stays at Williams is another matter.

The driver’s marker is set to be shaken up next year and it’ll be interesting to see how that affects Stroll.

He needs to keep performing but it might be a difficult conversation if his father decides he wants to make a change.