Lance Stroll has found himself under immense pressure this season, with many claiming that he’s only being retained by Aston Martin because his father, Lawrence Stroll, owns the team.
Whilst Stroll was given the benefit of the doubt in the opening rounds following his wrist surgery ahead of the season-opener in Bahrain, he has arguably cost Aston Martin massively in the Constructors’ Championship.
Points mean prizes in F1, and because of Stroll’s lack of points, Aston Martin’s cash prize is set to be less than it could’ve been.
Stroll has been responsible for just 20.4% of Aston Martin’s points in 2023 so far, with him having scored just 47 compared to Fernando Alonso’s 183.
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It’s been an embarrassing season in many ways for the Canadian, who is likely going to cost the team fourth in the standings to McLaren.
His best result this season is P4 at the Australian Grand Prix, whereas Alonso has featured on the podium seven times.
The two-time World Champion has proven that the AMR23 is good enough for consistent top-10 finishes and podiums, neither of which Stroll has delivered.
Stroll’s behaviour at the Qatar Grand Prix was also a huge problem, which for any other driver would’ve perhaps seen them dropped from the outfit.
He was seen pushing his personal trainer following a Q1 elimination, something he was later warned about by the FIA.
Stroll is by no means a bad driver but his inconsistency and weakness when under pressure will hold Aston Martin back from becoming a real championship contender, something his father perhaps needs to acknowledge to move the team forwards.
The team don’t necessarily need a second number one driver to compete with Alonso, with a stronger number two able to support the Spaniard being more than enough.
Should Stroll be sacked by his father, then the obvious replacement based on the rumours is AlphaTauri driver Yuki Tsunoda, who has very close ties to Honda.
Honda have supported Tsunoda throughout his career and are believed to be keen to take him to Aston Martin with them in 2026, when the Japanese manufacturer become the British side’s engine supplier for the new power unit regulations.
Tsunoda has improved considerably this season and has shown that he can keep his composure, allowing him to make the most of his occasional rapid pace.
The fact he’s scored points in the worst car on the grid highlights that he could finish even higher in a better car, something Aston Martin would be able to offer him.
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Another option prior to 2026 would be reserve driver Felipe Drugovich, who is the reigning Formula 2 Champion.
His F1 experience is minimal but he did perform well during pre-season testing, where he replaced Stroll.
Drugovich is a fast driver and could potentially develop into an excellent number two to support Alonso, although he’ll need at least a season to settle into the car and into the sport.