Lance Stroll admits ‘simple’ change needed to match Fernando Alonso at Aston Martin

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Lance Stroll ‘honestly’ thinks he can match Aston Martin teammate Fernando Alonso this year if the Canadian racer makes a ‘simple’ change to his Formula 1 driving style.

The 2023 F1 season started on shaky foundations for Stroll when the 24-year-old nearly had to miss the Bahrain GP. He had to skip pre-season testing at the Bahrain International Circuit in February after a cycling accident. It had forced Stroll to require minor surgery on his wrist.

Doctors inserted pins in the Montreal native’s broken wrist after he fell off his bicycle during the winter whilst training. But the operation allowed Stroll to contest the opening round and even score points. He came home in sixth, holding off Mercedes’ George Russell to the line.

Lance Stroll has endured some chaotic Grands Prix in 2023

Stroll scored further points at all but four of the following 11 Grands Prix before the summer break. He only failed to finish in the top 10 at the Saudi Arabian GP after a mechanical issue, at the Miami GP in 12th, the Monaco GP after multiple collisions and the British GP in 14th.

The Aston Martin driver was involved in an early incident at the Monaco GP with Alex Albon of Williams at the hairpin. Stroll also banged wheels with Red Bull driver Sergio Perez at the Nouvelle Chicane. He even later tagged Kevin Magnussen’s Haas at Anthony Noghes, too.

Stroll eventually retired from his chaotic Monaco GP after losing the front wing of his Aston Martin at the hairpin. While the Canadian finished 14th at the British GP after earning a five-second penalty for colliding with Pierre Gasly at Club and damaging the Alpine’s suspension.

Lance Stroll believes he can match Fernando Alonso

All in all, his results leave Stroll ninth in the Driver’s Championship through 12 rounds on 47 points. Alonso, on the other hand, ranks in third place with 149 points as the highest-placed non-Red Bull driver. The Spaniard has also claimed six podium finishes over 12 Grands Prix.

Alonso finished on the rostrum at the Bahrain, Saudi Arabian, Australian and Miami Grands Prix with third-place results. He also finished second at the Monaco GP and the Canadian GP. The two-time F1 champion has finished all Grands Prix and scored points in each round.

One ‘simple’ change is all Stroll believes he needs to match Alonso’s pace in the other Aston Martin car, however. He also believes that producing error-free weekends will help to secure better results during the former Williams racer’s seventh year in F1, having debuted in 2017.

Stroll told Motor Sport Magazine: “I think this year is, honestly, a lot of things that are out of our control that have really affected us. And I think if we have clean weekends, the results will be better. That’s what I honestly believe.

“But also just getting more out of the car and driving a bit faster because, right now, Fernando has generally been faster than me. So, I have to figure out how to go a little bit faster round the corners. Simple. That’s what we’re here to do, right?”