Lawrence Stroll offers rival F1 team Aston Martin’s ‘help’ with ‘anything’ in Drive to Survive

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Netflix caught Aston Martin owner Lawrence Stroll offering to help Williams F1 team principal James Vowles with ‘anything’ in the new season of the hit Drive to Survive.

Stroll brought the Aston Martin name back to Formula 1 in 2021 after 61 years away. He first took over the Silverstone squad in 2018 after buying Force India and renaming them, Racing Point. The Canadian billionaire then invested in the car manufacturer, Aston Martin, in 2020.

Since then, Stroll has continued to invest in the Aston Martin F1 team and oversaw a £200m move to a new factory in 2023. Last year further saw the Silverstone squad finish the season fifth in the constructors’ championship as Fernando Alonso took P4 in the drivers’ standings.

Aston Martin ‘impressed’ Williams boss James Vowles in 2023

Aston Martin’s P5 finish was the best result the team had claimed since Racing Point took P4 in 2020. Stroll saw the team end their first two seasons as Aston Martin in P7. They also had fewer points on 55 over 2022 with Sebastian Vettel and Lance Stroll than during 2021 on 77.

The arrival of Alonso from Alpine ahead of the 2023 season marked the start of a new era at Aston Martin, though. He finished on the podium during the Spaniard’s debut with P3 at the Bahrain GP and achieved five further rostrums in the opening eight rounds of the campaign.

Last year also saw Williams achieve their best finish in the constructors’ championship since 2017 with Alex Albon and rookie Logan Sargeant. Albon scored 27 of their 28 points to take P7. The Grove squad had not finished any campaign as high since they took P5 back in 2017.

Aston Martin owner Lawrence Stroll offers to ‘help’ Williams

Albon produced some tremendous, defensive drives at the Canadian GP and Italian GP with Williams in 2023 to secure his best finishes with P7. His displays were enough to take P13 in the drivers’ standings with Sargeant only in 21st. Alonso finished in fourth with Stroll in P10.

Williams would not end the campaign on a high, however, as Albon could only secure P14 at the Abu Dhabi GP with Sargeant in P16. Alonso finished the year with a P7 ahead of Stroll in P10. Aston Martin’s development over 2023 also astounded Williams team principal Vowles.

Netflix caught Vowles seeking out Aston Martin owner Stroll after the season-ending round at Yas Marina in episode 10 of season six of ‘Drive to Survive’. In their brief encounter, Stroll even also offers to help Williams further their progression in any way that Aston Martin can.

“Just really well done” Vowles told Stroll after the 2023 F1 Abu Dhabi GP. “[I was] very, very impressed with what you’ve done this year.” To which, Aston Martin owner Stroll stated: “Anything we can help you with, we’re there.”

His invitation tempted Vowles to reply: “I’ll let you know. For the time being, just keep doing what you’re doing.”