The Belgian Grand Prix saw Lance Stroll start from the 10th position with his Aston Martin, preceded by team mate Fernando Alonso.
The uncertainty caused by the possibility of rain made the teams’ strategy choices challenging. In Stroll’s case, the choice to make only one stop hindered the driver’s fight. The number 18 explained how this decision, compared to his rivals, penalised him.
“We waited a really long time for the rain to come to fit the inter. So we did 20 plus laps on the first stint, and then we lost some positions to Lando (Norris) and Esteban (Ocon) who were on a 2-stop. They just pitted earlier and didn’t wait for the rain.
“Yeah, that was a bit of a gamble. We lost some postions there, but it could’ve played into our hands and we could’ve finished in a really good position, so it’s one of those [things].”
Photo Credit: Aston Martin F1 Team
With only one pit stop, switching from mediums to softs on lap 20, Stroll found himself in trouble. While speaking to the media after the race, the driver explained how – looking back – he would have preferred a different strategy, involving two tyre changes and aiming for the optimal strategy.
“Now, looking back at the race, we would’ve had a better race if we did a 2-stop and just pitted earlier. More of a optimal strategy instead of waiting for the rain to come than just doing a one stop.
“But, like I said, it’s easy now in hindsight and we knew it didn’t rain. But if it would’ve rained it would’ve been much better to kinda do the 1-stop and fit inters.”
Aston Martin, which saw their two drivers finish the race in fifth and ninth position at Spa, had a brilliant start of the season, with the glimpse of a chance, especially for Fernando Alonso, to get into the game and fight with the current World Champion, Max Verstappen.
The team’s performance, which witnessed the Spanish driver score six podiums in the first either races, then saw ups and downs in the first part of the season, ending with a disappointing ninth and tenth position at the Hungarian Grand Prix. But they would have a better Sunday at Spa.
Stroll has reflected on the campaign so far.
“I think we started and we came out of the box really strong. It’s been a bit more challenging in the last few events, a lot of the teams caught up so it’s much tighter now. And we really just have to keep pushing and try to make another step in the second half of the season to kinda get back to that really competitive car that we had at the beginning of the year.”
However, the Canadian driver emphasised on how the steps forward taken since Hungary must be a stepping stone for the team, which now finds itself third in the Constructors’ Championship.
“I think we made some little mods to the car which definitively help, but I think we still really have to keep pushing ‘cause we’re not as quick as we want to be.”
