Aston Martin team principal Mike Krack has admitted that Lance Stroll’s recent struggles have been “internally” impacting the Silverstone-based team, who are currently enduring a downward spiral.
The second half of 2023 has been miserable for Aston Martin, although for Stroll his misery began before Bahrain.
Stroll entered the season with negativity looming over him, after he missed pre-season testing to undergo surgery on both of his wrists.
Despite this, his best performances of the year actually came in the opening rounds, with his highlight having been fourth at the Australian Grand Prix.
Want to work in Formula 1? Browse the latest F1 job vacancies
He’s not delivered anywhere near enough points though, as Fernando Alonso has featured on the podium seven times.
Stroll is responsible for just 22.5% of Aston Martin’s points this season, with Alonso having been fighting for the team himself effectively.
This has massively hurt the British team now that their pace is worsening, as McLaren have been able to overtake them with ease.
Had Stroll been nearer to Alonso all season, then McLaren would’ve had a greater number of points to make up.
With the 25-year-old having also been eliminated in Q1 in each of the past five races also, calls for him to be sacked have intensified.
Some have stated that he’s only in F1 because his father owns the team, which does put a lot of pressure of the driver’s shoulders.
His lowest point came at the Qatar Grand Prix where he pushed his personal trainer and threw his steering wheel out of the car.
It’s created tension amongst those who work for Aston Martin, although with Stroll having scored points at the United States Grand Prix, Krack has admitted that it’s taken the pressure off slightly.
“Lance got a beating from you [the press] for three or four months,” Krack told Sky Sports F1, as quoted by motorsport-total.com.
READ: Are Fernando Alonso and Sergio Perez swapping seats in 2024?
“So, it was very good that he got a good result [in Austin] and that the situation calmed down for the time being.
“The pressure is increasing internally. It’s also difficult for the team because then every little mistake is taken into account. And I’m glad that we came back a little bit for him, but also for the team, for everyone.”
Unfortunately, the pressure is very much back on after both Stroll and Alonso retired at the Mexican Grand Prix last weekend.