F1 fans are all in agreement about Lance Stroll after Esteban Ocon crash at US Grand Prix

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F1 fans have reacted to Lance Stroll’s opportunistic overtake attempt on Esteban Ocon during the United States Grand Prix Sprint race.

The fourth Sprint race of the 2025 F1 season proved to be a thriller over the 19 laps at the Circuit of the Americas, in stark contrast to the fairly timid processions that the shorter format races usually serve up.

The action started as the lights went out, with the frontrunning duo of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri tangling at turn one.

The McLaren duo were forced to retire from the race before it had properly gotten underway, which may have critical consequences in Max Verstappen’s last-minute bid for the title.

Verstappen was also involved in a close call with George Russell as the pair went off track at 12. No contact was made, however, and the Dutchman was able to keep his lead until the chequered flag.

Stroll was the cause of a late safety car that saw Verstappen and the rest of the field take the chequered flag under the safety car, and F1 fans aren’t happy with the way in which he brought out the yellow flags.

READ MORE: Max Verstappen wins US Grand Prix Sprint race after Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri crash

F1 fans slam Lance Stroll for his ‘dangerous’ overtake attempt on Esteban Ocon during the United States GP Sprint

Fans quickly took to the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to discuss the Canadian’s role in the crash, which saw both him and Ocon fail to take the chequered flag at the end of the race.

One user commented, “Lance Stroll doing Lance Stroll things,” which was echoed in the sentiment of another fan’s post, which stated, “This was one of those typical Stroll moves.”

The move marked Stroll’s first DNF of the season, and after he withdrew from the Spanish Grand Prix in June, some fans think he should be slapped with a race ban for his part in the incident.

“How Stroll has never been banned from a race is wild to me,” one fan commented, with another highlighting that he needs to face repercussions, writing, “I would be so mad if I were Ocon, Stroll has to be punished.”

A separate fan recalled former F1 driver Daniel Ricciardo’s talent for late-braking manoeuvres after seeing Stroll’s crash, and they posted, “Stroll thought he was prime Ricciardo.”

Ahead of the race weekend in Austin, Aston Martin reserve driver Felipe Drugovich revealed how close Stroll was to quitting F1 before the beginning of the previous term, and one fan has brought attention to the fact that they wouldn’t miss him if he did.

They wrote: “Stroll is dangerous. If there is one driver I wouldn’t miss if they left, he is the guy.”

READ MORE: Only one driver on the 2025 Formula 1 grid treats racing as a job rather than a ‘calling’

Former Red Bull mechanic Calum Nicholas reacts to Lance Stroll’s clash with Esteban Ocon in Austin

After careering into Ocon’s Haas and ending up in the run-off area at turn one, it was clear that the damage in the AMR25’s front-right suspension would force the Canadian driver into an early retirement.

However, Stroll decided to attempt to crawl the entire length of the 3.4-mile circuit in order to bring the car back to the pits, spreading more debris across the racing line.

Former Red Bull engineer Calum Nicholas shared his thoughts on the 26-year-old’s decision, posting on X and accompanied by a face-palm emoji, “Nah… How you gonna drive that back on to the track?”

In BBC 5 Live’s coverage of the event, former F1 driver Damon Hill highlighted an issue with turn one at the Texan circuit, saying, “He comes from a massively long way back, and, of course, that is the problem with this turn one.

“The guy who was in this case is taking the racing line, comes right across the bow of the person who’s tempted into taking a dive.”