‘Spoiled’ Formula 1 driver told he needs to have more fun if he’s going to ‘really shine’

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Aston Martin driver Lance Stroll’s 2024 Formula 1 campaign has gone slightly under the radar.

The Canadian driver has more than 150 Grand Prix under his belt and aside from a pole position in 2020 and a handful of podiums, hasn’t ever set the sport alight.

Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso have both struggled as a result of Aston Martin’s rivals taking steps forward this year that they’ve simply not been able to match.

Alonso lamented the lack of updates on the horizon for Aston Martin for the rest of the year, with the team already looking towards 2025 and beyond.

However, the gap between Stroll and the two-time world champion has closed in recent times.

The Spaniard got off to a much stronger start at the beginning of the year, but since the Miami Grand Prix, Alonso has only scored one more point than Stroll.

As part of his review of every driver during the summer break, former F1 driver Tim Coronel was writing for Fomule1.nl about the 25-year-old.

Coronel was complimentary about Stroll but admitted that he wants to see him have more fun on the track and in the paddock.

He’s suggested that if he can rediscover his love for the sport, then he could go to the next level.

READ MORE: Aston Martin driver Lance Stroll’s life outside F1 from net worth to girlfriend

Lance Stroll told he could ‘really shine’ this season if he has more fun

Reflecting on Stroll’s start to the season, Coronel said: “He shows at times that he is there. Because of his father, he drives at Aston Martin, we all know that, but I’ll never forget his pole in the rain in Turkey 2020.

“So, you can do something then! That can’t be a lucky shot, because you leave a lot of top drivers behind you at that moment. And don’t forget, he has been F3 champion before.

“What it is with Lance Stroll above all is that he doesn’t exude much fun. I miss the fun factor with him.

“I am convinced that if he knows how to hit that sweet spot in himself, he could still go on to really shine. But that is up to him.

“I think the guy really likes racing, but not all the fuss around it. As a professional racing driver, you have more pluses than minuses, but if you can’t swallow those minuses, I don’t think you should get those pluses.

“With him, I do have that spoilt rich boy feeling. While once again he is really good and certainly not a pancake.”

READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Aston Martin F1 Team from team principal to lineage

Lance Stroll hasn’t got many supporters in the Formula 1 paddock

Given Stroll’s father Lawrence is in charge of the Aston Martin team, there are always suggestions that he may not deserve his place on the grid.

However, although he’s not at the same level as Alonso, he’s more than held his own on the grid for years.

It’s been said that Alonso and team principal Mike Krack are Stroll’s only supporters and he does seem to need to work harder to prove his worthiness in Formula 1.

Stroll was reportedly unhappy earlier in the season that Alonso was receiving upgrades before him.

The least the Canadian driver can ask for is to be on a level playing field with his teammate but with few updates expected for the rest of the season, that shouldn’t be an issue going forward.