Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll may finally be ready to challenge his in-form teammate Fernando Alonso as they head into the Canadian Grand Prix.
Lawrence Stroll, team owner and Lance’s father, expressed his desire to see both drivers on the podium in Montreal.
Alonso, speaking ahead of the race weekend, responded with a smile, acknowledging the ambitious target set by Lawrence Stroll.
“It is an aggressive target for the weekend,” he said.
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“But we know Lawrence – the ambition is super high with him, always. And we will try to make him happy and proud in his home grand prix.”
Despite Alonso’s recent impressive run of podium finishes coming to an end in Barcelona, he remains hopeful for a strong performance in Montreal.
The team has introduced new parts to the car for this race, aiming to test and validate their effectiveness, depending on the weather conditions.
In reality, the upgrades for the Canadian Grand Prix are more significant than Alonso suggests, with visible changes to the sidepods and engine cover.
Technical director Dan Fallows is receiving praise for Aston Martin’s progress this season, as he plays a crucial role in the team’s development.
However, former Formula 1 driver Gerhard Berger believes that the credit for the team’s improvements should go to Lawrence Stroll.
Berger considers Stroll to be an intelligent and competitive businessman fully committed to Formula 1.
Stroll’s ability to convince Fallows to leave Red Bull and join Aston Martin is seen as a testament to his managerial skills in recruiting highly qualified personnel.
In positive news, Lance Stroll confirmed on Friday that his pre-season wrist injuries have finally healed completely, allowing him to perform at his best.
Lawrence Stroll acknowledged that it took his son about six or seven races to fully recover, but he believes that by the end of the season, Lance and Fernando will be on an equal footing.
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Team boss Mike Krack also expressed his support for Lance Stroll, praising his determination and perseverance despite the injuries. Krack commended Stroll for bringing valuable points to the team.
“He’s a fighter,” he told Le Journal de Montreal newspaper. “He drove on despite his injuries.
“We have to take our hats off to him for having managed to bring us points.”