After Bahrain, Aston Martin have set the stage for a fierce battle with the top three. Realistically, as it stands the Green Machine may only be able to challenge the Prancing Horse and Silver Arrows works teams. Red Bull just seem till have too much pace for anyone to really bother them. Back to Aston Martin and their spectacular finish at the inaugural race of 2023.
Alonso stole the show with his stellar podium finish and Stroll was equally amazing with his points finish. Let’s not shy away from the fact that Stroll raced with hand injuries as well as a damaged toe. Both of which are instrumental in racing cars. Lawrence was exceptionally proud of his son, as he should be.
What if?
Stroll is a driver who had performed well in the junior series but in F1 has had a less impressive run. He has shown glimpses and some rainmeister skills but they have been few and far apart. This could easily be chalked down down to just not having the right car underneath him. It’s a curse most drivers face. After all, a fast car is 70 percent of winning.
But now he does have a good car at his disposal and a highly experienced teammate. So the excuse lines are going to run thin quick.
He needs to not only keep up with Alonso but actually beat him consistently and prove his worth. It’s no secret a lot of people believe he only has a seat because daddy bought the team. And sure that helped, but in the ruthless game of Formula 1. A helping hand isn’t a bad thing.
What if he doesn’t perform?
That’s the million dollar question now isn’t it. When a team is winning hits easy to praise everyone. Winning never lasts forever. Just ask Toto, as we watch his once glorious team come to terms with underperforming and a failing car philosophy. If Aston Martin have a winning car and able to challenge for a champions Lance isn’t cutting, will Stroll senior have the stones to pull the plug on his own son? What comes first? The team or his son?
It’s going to be interesting to see how the driver hierarch plays out over the season. Alonso winning will always have a better press than Stroll given his legendary status in the sport.
Does Stroll really want his father pushing this agenda as it would hurt his career more than help it. More so how will Alonso react should there be an entanglement between the two. Fernando isn’t the nicest when touching rubber with another car, regardless of whose fault it is. Needless to say, the next few races are going to reveal a lot. Not just slowly reveal the true potential of the cars but also team relationships. But it is also the fans and media who could help or hinder Stroll’s future. Right now, the spotlight is on Alonso, who has this cool IDGAF attitude, where as, Stroll comes across as prissy. Harsh? Maybe, but personality can do wonders for ones careers. Just look at Daniel Ricciardo who may have lost a seat but still holds a presence in the sport.
Let’s see where we are in 6 months…
