Stroll: "Williams' daring car needs more time"

  • Published on 22 Mar 2018 10:39
  • comments 6
  • By: Rob Veenstra

Lance Stroll has admitted Williams needs "time" to get the most from its 2018 car. Once a stronger force behind the top three teams, the British outfit had a less competitive winter with its new car and young driver lineup of Stroll and rookie Sergey Sirotkin.

"The design of the new car is more daring, and it will take a little more time to get the most out of it," Stroll told the Canadian newspaper La Presse. "The car is already better than last year's, but that's the same for everyone," he added. "We'll only know in Melbourne where we are."

Stroll, still 19, is often dismissed as a 'pay driver', and he admitted that it's "true" that he struggled at times last year alongside Felipe Massa. "But I feel much better in the car now and, with experience, I think I can be much faster," he said.

"It's hard to do well in qualifying when, like me last year, the day ends in Q1 or Q2. It's hard to get used to the tyres and find the limit of the car when you only have one or two laps to do it. But I now know more about what to expect, so I think I can do a lot better in qualifying," Stroll added.

He also said he has learned a lot about setting up the car and finding a good balance, and is therefore ready to be the most experienced Williams driver. "Sergey and I have a very experienced team around us, and I'm very comfortable in the team. I know all the circuits and the routine. I will do my best, and I don't see why I will not have a better season than the last. What remains to be seen is if the car will be competitive," Stroll said. (GMM)

Harryw

Posts: 107

I’d be very surprised if that was the order. For me it’s merc, red bull, Ferrari, McLaren, Renault, Haas, force India, Toro Rosso, Williams, Sauber

  • 1
  • Mar 22 2018 - 18:11

Replies (6)

Login to reply
  • RacetoWin

    Posts: 95

    I dont believe Williams have shown their hand yet and sandbagged the testing with heavy fuel runs, that being said they were still lapping at the same pace as the mclaren's who were desperate for results to try and lure sponsors. Williams will improve as they develop their new car and mclaren will likely wait to mid season before introducing a chassis upgrade. Mclaren's wait is due to lack of funding and hopes to score points in early rounds vs teams who are bringing new cars that need to developed to achieve ultimate pace. This is why Mclaren and Williams will be fighting it out at the back of the field.

    pecking order:

    mercedes/Ferrari
    Redbull
    HAAS/Torro Rosso
    Force india/Renault
    Williams/Mclaren
    Sauber

    With Mclaren's lack of top speed during testing and using mostly last years car they might drop out of the race just to save their engine and wait until they are more competitive.

    • + 0
    • Mar 22 2018 - 17:22
    • Hm, Switch Renault and TR, and McLaren and Force India, and you'd have my pecking order.

      • + 0
      • Mar 22 2018 - 19:05
  • Harryw

    Posts: 107

    I’d be very surprised if that was the order. For me it’s merc, red bull, Ferrari, McLaren, Renault, Haas, force India, Toro Rosso, Williams, Sauber

    • + 1
    • Mar 22 2018 - 18:11
    • I sincerely doubt McLaren will be faster than Works Renault. Such is the power of a works team. And Haas looked stronger than McLaren to boot. Force India vs TR is interesting, mind.

      • + 0
      • Mar 22 2018 - 19:07
  • It'll need more than time. Gone are the days when Williams could rely on that rad Merc' unit to catch some decent points.

    • + 0
    • Mar 22 2018 - 20:41
  • Have you heard about Villeneuves comments about Kubica saboting development of the car to drivers struggle so he could jump in the race car? He is still suffering 2006 year when Robert kicked him out...

    • + 0
    • Mar 23 2018 - 09:53

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 23:12

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 23:12

World Championship standings 2025

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2025

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
14 - Mar 16
Australia
21 - Mar 23
China
4 - Apr 6
Japan
11 - Apr 13
Bahrain
18 - Apr 20
Saudi Arabia
2 - May 4
United States of America
16 - May 18
Italy
23 - May 25
Monaco
30 - Jun 1
Spain
13 - Jun 15
Canada
27 - Jun 29
Austria
4 - Jul 6
United Kingdom
25 - Jul 27
Belgium
1 - Aug 3
Hungary
29 - Aug 31
Netherlands
5 - Sep 7
Italy
19 - Sep 21
Azerbaijan
3 - Oct 5
Singapore
17 - Oct 19
United States of America
24 - Oct 26
Mexico
7 - Nov 9
Brazil
21 - Nov 23
United States of America
28 - Nov 30
Qatar
5 - Dec 7
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2025

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
14 - Mar 16
Australia Albert Park
21 - Mar 23
4 - Apr 6
11 - Apr 13
18 - Apr 20
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
2 - May 4
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
16 - May 18
23 - May 25
Monaco Monte Carlo
30 - Jun 1
13 - Jun 15
27 - Jun 29
Austria Red Bull Ring
4 - Jul 6
United Kingdom Silverstone
25 - Jul 27
1 - Aug 3
Hungary Hungaroring
29 - Aug 31
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
5 - Sep 7
Italy Monza
19 - Sep 21
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
3 - Oct 5
17 - Oct 19
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
24 - Oct 26
7 - Nov 9
Brazil Interlagos
21 - Nov 23
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
28 - Nov 30
5 - Dec 7
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team Aston Martin
  • Points 302
  • Podiums 3
  • Grand Prix 172
  • Country CA
  • Date of b. Oct 29 1998 (26)
  • Place of b. Montreal, CA
  • Weight 70 kg
  • Length 1.8 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar