Lance Strulovitch — better known as Lance Stroll — is a Canadian Formula 1 driver currently racing for Aston Martin. The son of billionaire businessman Lawrence Stroll, Lance has had the kind of motorsport career most drivers would sacrifice a kidney for: paid seats, early access to top teams, and eventually… a whole F1 operation tailored to him. It’s the ultimate case study in what happens when a Formula 1 career is guaranteed — and why that still doesn’t guarantee anything at all.
Quick Facts
| Full Name | Lance Strulovitch |
| Born | 29 October 1998, Montreal, Canada |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Current Team | Aston Martin (2021–present) |
| Former Teams | Williams (2017–2018), Racing Point (2019–2020) |
| Car Number | 18 |
| F1 Debut | 2017, Australian Grand Prix |
| Podiums | 3 |
| Poles | 1 (Turkey 2020) |
| Best Finish | 3rd |
| Junior Highlight | F3 Europe Champion (2016) |
Built, Not Earned?
Let’s not sugarcoat it: Lance Stroll is the definitive modern pay driver. But this isn’t the ’90s Minardi type of pay driver. This is a bespoke dynasty model. Lawrence Stroll didn’t just back his son — he bought F3 testing programs, top-tier teams, and eventually an entire F1 outfit, transforming Racing Point into Aston Martin with factory upgrades, massive funding, and top-tier talent like Fernando Alonso in the other car.
That kind of support is supposed to produce greatness. Instead, it’s produced… Lance.
To be fair, Stroll has had moments. A podium in Baku as a rookie. A wild pole in wet Turkey. Some genuinely impressive race starts. He can be quick — no question. But he never sustains it. He never evolves. And sometimes, he never even looks like he wants to be there.
The body language is flat. The radio calls sound bored. And the vibe, especially when things go wrong, is that Lance might be in F1 because he has to be, not because he loves it. Which makes it hard to root for him — not because of the money, but because of the energy.
Career Timeline: Privilege, Pressure, and Plateau
- Junior Years (2008–2016)
- Backed by Ferrari Driver Academy early.
- Won the 2016 European Formula 3 championship with PREMA — heavily funded, extensive private testing program.
- Skipped F2 entirely and jumped straight into F1 with Williams at 18.
- Backed by Ferrari Driver Academy early.
- Williams Debut (2017–2018)
- Scored podium in Baku — youngest rookie to do so.
- Frequently outclassed by teammate Felipe Massa.
- Struggled with consistency, wheel-to-wheel hesitance, and setup understanding.
- Scored podium in Baku — youngest rookie to do so.
- Move to Racing Point (2019–2020)
- Joined the team his father had just purchased.
- 2020 was his peak: pole in Turkey, podium at Monza, P11 in the championship.
- Still, teammate Sergio Pérez usually had the upper hand.
- Joined the team his father had just purchased.
- Aston Martin Era (2021– )
- Teamed up with Sebastian Vettel, then Fernando Alonso.
- Occasionally showed promise — especially in chaotic conditions or first laps.
- But failed to close the gap to his teammates across full seasons.
- In 2023–2025, Aston Martin rose — but Lance didn’t rise with it.
- Teamed up with Sebastian Vettel, then Fernando Alonso.
The Enigma of Lance
It’s easy to criticize Stroll. The money. The favoritism. The lost potential of that Aston Martin seat. But the real frustration is that he could be better. The raw pace is there. He has the equipment. He has the support system. But something’s missing — the hunger, the obsession, the next gear.
F1 rewards those who fight for it. Lance Stroll, for all his advantages, doesn’t always look like he wants to fight.
And that’s why, even after almost a decade in the sport, the jury is still out.
