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Lance Stroll’s data from FP1 at the Belgian Grand Prix showcased the extent of the Aston Martin AMR26’s efficiency issues as he recorded speeds slower than a GT3 car at the end of the Kemmel straight.
With this weekend’s round of racing taking place at the longest circuit on the F1 calendar, Aston Martin were always going to struggle with keeping the rest of the grid in touching distance.
Drop your podium prediction for the Belgian Grand Prix 👇
Friday afternoon’s FP1 session exposed that entirely. With Jak Crawford taking the reins of Fernando Alonso’s entry for his third appearance in a practice session this weekend, the American reserve driver ended FP1 in P22 – 6.129s off the pace.
The more experienced Lance Stroll was not much better. He could only muster the 21st-best time of the session, and that was still 5.738s off the pace of Max Verstappen’s FP1 benchmark.
- READ MORE: Max Verstappen sets pace in FP1 at Belgian Grand Prix ahead of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc
Lance Stroll’s data from FP1 at Belgian Grand Prix shows he was as slow as a GT3 car on the Kemmel straight
Of course, it’s difficult to compare a backmarker’s data to the frontrunners, but even comparing Aston Martin’s lap times with the next fastest car is not a pretty picture for Adrian Newey and co.
Carlos Sainz ended FP1 in P20, and Stroll’s best lap time was still just shy of two seconds slower than what the Williams driver could do.
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The most remarkable statistic to come out of Aston Martin’s sheer lack of pace in FP1 was the fact that Stroll’s top speed at the end of the 0.65-mile-long Kemmel straight was actually less than what GT3 cars usually clock in as they approach turn five.
Stroll’s data from the opening practice session of the weekend saw his Honda power unit experience a monumental amount of super clipping on the straight, with his speed peaking at just over 186mph before drastically dropping to 154mph at the braking zone.
What’s even more astounding is the fact that GT3 cars reach upwards of that figure on their own respective rotations of the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps.
- READ MORE: Guenther Steiner fears Lawrence Stroll could sack Adrian Newey if Aston Martin upgrade fails
They usually reach somewhere around 155 – 158mph according to various onboards from the recent running of the Spa 24 Hours, indicating a shocking level of speed loss that Stroll was experiencing in the pinnacle of single-seater motorsport.
Aston Martin are supposedly now crawling to the debut of their ‘B-spec’ AMR26, which is set to arrive at the next round of racing in Hungary. While it’s not supposed to set the timing sheets alight upon his arrival, it simply has to be an improvement on their current chassis.
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