FIA sheds light on Lance Stroll apology

Lance Stroll’s controversial weekend in Qatar has resulted in the Canadian being reprimanded by the FIA for his behaviour.

In the aftermath of his controversial weekend at the Qatar Grand Prix, the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) has officially warned Lance Stroll for his conduct, shedding light on a moment of frustration and a potential turning point in his career.

Following the qualifying session, Stroll’s emotions ran high as he exited his car and proceeded towards the rear of the Aston Martin garage, disregarding his performance coach Henry Howe’s directive to exit at the front, where he was expected at the weighbridge.

Despite Howe’s insistence, Stroll expressed his frustration by forcefully moving his coach out of his path. 

This incident led to an investigation by the FIA into Stroll’s behaviour, with the governing body’s Compliance Officer tasked with determining whether the actions breached motorsport’s Code of Ethics.

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On Friday, the FIA provided an update, revealing that they had issued a warning to Lance Stroll concerning his actions in Qatar. 

The FIA’s statement stated, “We can confirm that the FIA Compliance Officer has received an apology from Lance Stroll regarding his actions during the 2023 FIA Formula 1 Qatar Grand Prix. 

“The Compliance Officer has noted this apology and issued a written warning, reminding Lance of his responsibilities as a competitor bound by the FIA Code of Ethics and other FIA ethical and conduct guidelines set forth by the sporting regulations. 

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“The FIA maintains a zero-tolerance stance against misconduct and condemns any actions that may lead to physical harassment.”

Stroll’s frustrations have been mounting throughout this season, exacerbated by his inability to escape a performance slump that began last summer. 

On both qualifying days and race days, Stroll has fallen significantly behind his Aston Martin teammate and team leader, Fernando Alonso.