Stroll certain of Aston Martin “potential” amid early F1 season ‘frustration’

Lance Stroll remains convinced of the “potential” at Aston Martin despite the team’s rocky start to the new Formula 1 era.

Aston Martin has completed by far the least running of any team so far this season, with severe vibrations limiting mileage and risking nerve damage to Stroll and Fernando Alonso. On top of this, comes news that Jonathan Wheatley, currently team principal at Audi, is set to replace Adrian Newey in this role at Aston Martin; reports that both teams have dismissed as "speculation".

Although the early stages of the Chinese Grand Prix weekend appeared to be a step in the right direction, with both drivers taking part in qualifying for the first time this term, neither finished the race. In Alonso’s case, it was the continued vibrations that forced him to stop, after he was seen taking his hands off the wheel on straights to reduce the impact.

“It’s not a great time for the team,” conceded Stroll. “Everyone’s frustrated with where we are. It’s not why we want to come racing, to be fighting for these positions. But there’s a lot of potential, of that I have no doubt.

“We have a great facility, very talented people inside the team, Adrian [Newey], who joined, Honda has won four of the last five championships. Right now, it’s not ideal, but we keep pushing forward, and I have a lot of belief in the whole team and the whole operation.”

The limitations caused by the Honda power unit mean Aston Martin lacks a clear picture of how its chassis is performing, which hinders development.

Asked if he had begun to get a feel for the chassis in China, Stroll added: “Sure, every run.

“Saturday was my first proper qualifying laps in the car, because I didn’t really run much in Bahrain, didn’t run in Barcelona, and I didn’t run in Australia, so Saturday was the first time I even qualified the car properly. In the race, getting a start in and doing a few laps is just kilometres under my belt, so I’m just learning more about the car.

“As a team, we’re collecting more data and learning more and more with every lap.”

With the next race of the F1 season taking place in Japan at the Honda-owned Suzuka, there will be significant pressure for an improved showing.

Offering a bleak outlook, Stroll said: “Unless they can find some magic in the next 10 days. Pray. Pray with me.”