At the British Grand Prix, Lance Stroll openly criticized his Aston Martin AMR25, calling it the
“worst piece of sh*t I’ve ever driven in my life”
following a challenging race weekend. Despite starting 18th on the grid and finishing seventh in mixed weather conditions, Stroll’s blunt remarks sparked calls for an apology to his team.
Race Performance and Team Strategy at Silverstone
Stroll’s drive from 18th to seventh place marked his first points finish since the second round of the championship in China. The race conditions at Silverstone were difficult, with rain impacting tire performance and strategy. Aston Martin’s timely decisions helped Stroll reach third place during the race, though he eventually dropped back to seventh after being overtaken by Nico Hulkenberg and Lewis Hamilton as the track dried out.
On his cooldown lap after the chequered flag, Stroll expressed his frustration to his race engineer Gary Gannon over the performance of the intermediate tires, complaining about significant lap time losses. Gannon responded by commending Stroll’s effort in such a difficult car, acknowledging the points both drivers earned.
Stroll said,
“Crazy is an understatement. I mean, it’s the worst piece of sh*t I’ve ever driven in my life to be honest. But it’s okay. Seventh.”
Ralf Schumacher Condemns Stroll’s Comments as Disrespectful
Former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher publicly criticized Stroll’s statement, calling it both disappointing and a matter of etiquette. Speaking on the Sky Deutschland Backstage Pitlane podcast, Schumacher emphasized the hard work of mechanics and staff behind the team’s success, making Stroll’s harsh words particularly disrespectful.
He remarked,
“I have to say, this statement is very disappointing, and quite honestly, it’s a question of manners.”
Schumacher continued,
“It’s unspeakable and indicates a poor upbringing. I don’t know what movie hero he thinks he is, but such statements diminish his own results.”
Closing his criticism, Schumacher urged,
“Dear Lance, apologise to the team.”
Aston Martin’s Strong Double Points Result in Challenging Conditions
Despite Stroll’s criticism, the German highlighted the team’s solid performance, noting both Aston Martin drivers contributed crucial points in what was the team’s first double points finish of the 2025 season. Fernando Alonso finished ninth, reinforcing the team’s competitiveness under tough conditions.
Schumacher acknowledged,
“In this regard, their entire team deserves high praise, because at Silverstone, both drivers earned the points.”
Currently, Aston Martin sits eighth in the Constructors’ Championship, tied with Racing Bulls on 36 points and just five points behind sixth-placed Sauber, reflecting a tightly contested midfield battle.
Stroll Reflects on Race Challenges and Positive Outcome
After the race, Stroll softened his tone when discussing the team’s performance and challenges faced during the event. He admitted that tire degradation was a major factor limiting his pace, especially on soft tires, which he struggled to keep on track towards the end of the race.
He stated,
“I think the result was good. I think we had a lot of degradation, and couldn’t really fight with that kind of degradation.”
Stroll compared Aston Martin’s performance with Sauber’s, acknowledging their greater grip advantage. He added,
“With that kind of deg it’s going to be hard to fight, but it’s a good result, good strategy calls. So that was good.”
The Impact of Stroll’s Comments and Future Implications
The controversy surrounding Lance Stroll’s comments has spotlighted the tension between driver frustrations and professional conduct in Formula 1. While his candidness reflects the challenges drivers face with evolving car performance, the backlash emphasizes the importance of respecting team efforts. With Aston Martin continuing to contend for positions in the midfield, maintaining positive internal relationships will be crucial moving forward.
Stroll’s willingness to acknowledge the team’s strategy and eventual point finish after the race suggests a more measured approach in future communications, with observers watching closely for any formal apology or reconciliation within the team.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Which F1 driver has a billionaire dad? Lance Stroll is the only driver with a billionaire father, Lawrence Stroll.
A. Here are the F1 drivers whose parents are billionaires:
– Lance Stroll: His father, Lawrence Stroll, is a billionaire.
– Nicholas Latifi: His father, Michael Latifi, is extremely wealthy, with a billion-dollar fortune.
– Lando Norris: Adam Norris, Lando’s father, is also very rich.
These drivers come from families with significant financial resources.