‘Mighty drive’… Martin Brundle hails 25-year-old driver who was simply fantastic in Las Vegas last weekend

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Martin Brundle has highlighted how just good Aston Martin driver Lance Stroll was last weekend at the Las Vegas Grand Prix.

Brundle was writing about the latest new race on the Formula 1 calendar that has already become one of the most unique destinations in the sport’s history.

It wouldn’t be a race in 2023 if Max Verstappen wasn’t standing on the top step of the podium.

He had to share a ride with Charles Leclerc and Sergio Perez to the Bellagio and back in a Rolls-Royce before being handed his 18^th winner’s trophy of the season, but it was always going to be an over-the-top ceremony in Las Vegas.

Although the battle for the race lead was interesting on this occasion for once, there was still plenty going on behind the front three.

Mercedes driver George Russell was trying to carve his way through the top ten to score as many points as possible after picking up a five-second penalty for colliding with Verstappen.

He managed to get past Esteban Ocon and Lance Stroll in the final laps but dropped back down to eighth in the end.

Ocon and Stroll have both been hailed for their drives in Las Vegas with Martin Brundle singling out the Canadian in particular.

He has spent much of this year in the shadow of teammate Fernando Alonso for good reason.

The two-time world champion is once again punching above his weight and could finish fourth in the Drivers’ Championship.

However, Stroll is ending the season on a high and deserves praise for back-to-back fifth places.

Brundle singles out Stroll for praise in Las Vegas

Speaking about the 25-year-old, Brundle said: “Lance Stroll had a mighty race for Aston Martin to claim fifth from 19th on the grid, and Sainz recovered from his grid penalty and running last on lap one to sixth at the flag.”

Unless Gasly or Ocon can finish on the podium in Abu Dhabi, Stroll will finish in the top ten of the Drivers’ Championship for the first time in his career.

He needs to finish eighth or above to break his point record for one season as well and the fact he’s in that position is thanks to his late form.

Brundle was quick to praise Stroll during the Las Vegas Grand Prix and for him to highlight his race again highlights just how well he did.

There have been question marks over whether he deserves his seat on the grid but he’s undoubtedly fast under the right conditions.