Lance Stroll is "super quick" - Villeneuve

1997 Formula One world champion Jacques Villeneuve is very impressed with 18 year old Lance Stroll, as the European Formula Three champion prepares to take part in his first ever season of F1.

Stroll was originally brought in to replace Felipe Massa at Williams but has since learned that he will partner him in light of Valtteri Bottas' move to Mercedes. Stroll dominated the Formula Three championship in 2016 and will be hoping his mature performances there can translate into positive results for himself and the team.

Compatriot Jacques Villeneuve, who is the only Canadian world champion believes in the abilities of Stroll, even though there are suggestions he is only in the team for money he brings.

“Definitely he will have to prove himself even more and he knows that," he said to Sky Sports. "It is just a general attitude that in people’s minds that if you have money you cannot have talent which is not true. The two are not linked, the money gives you the opportunity, but it then depends what you are made off," the 1997 world champion said.

“Obviously when you get through the ranks with money you get the best opportunities which is great so you don’t burn yourself, but also you don’t suffer as much in certain situations and all that learning you will have to do in F1 rather than other formulas.

“But he is super quick, very talented and the few times I met him at the race track last year I was very impressed with his attitude. He seemed to have the right mental makeup to make it. So right now I am quite positive on his possibilities.”

Fergal Walsh