Stroll names Michael Schumacher as his hero

New Williams driver Lance Stroll has labelled Michael Schumacher as his racing hero. The seven time world champion won five titles at Ferrari from 2000-2004, right when young Stroll was growing up.

Stroll will be the only rookie on the 2017 grid and feels he is honoured to be joining Williams, and spoke about the rich history of the team.

"It just feels like I'm joining a real racing family, that's the best way to put it," he said. "I've seen the first car ever built by Williams, [Juan Pablo] Montoya's car, [Alain] Prost's and all these amazing cars and you just feel like you're part of this chain of history.

"Growing up, my hero in racing, I would say Michael Schumacher," he proclaimed. "Jacques [Villeneuve] I think won the championship a year before I was born, it's a bit before my time! But I know a bit of my history and I've obviously watched some races from the past with [Nigel] Mansell, Villeneuve, Prost and all those guys."

Stroll spoke about the upcoming season and said that he is only focused on doing the best he can as the season will be riddled with challenges.

"2017 is going to be full of challenges, new cars, new regulations and in my first year I'm not going to focus on winning the world championship, I'm just going to do the best that I can.

"It's actually a dream come true, to be a Formula 1 driver, but then to actually go to Melbourne, go out in FP1, qualifying and the race, it's incredible. I can't really tell you how I feel because I don't know myself. I'll tell you after," he laughed.

Fergal Walsh