Stroll’s Struggles in Monaco: Newey Comes to His Defense
Adrian Newey has publicly defended Aston Martin driver Lance Stroll following a series of missteps that have marred the Canadian’s reputation in Formula 1. Stroll faced criticism again during the Monaco Grand Prix weekend after being forced to retire from FP1 following a collision with Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari. This incident, which resulted in a gearbox change and a one-place grid penalty, compounded Stroll’s difficulties as he qualified 19th.
Team Principal Andy Cowell clarified that the team’s communication breakdown led to the accident, stating, “Our radio call wasn’t clear enough. We need to learn from that.” He added that the damaged rear wishbone and floor necessitated a gearbox replacement, noting the lost practice laps were a significant setback for Stroll.
Newey, attending his inaugural race as managing technical partner at Aston Martin, emphasized that Stroll’s performance should not be underestimated. “Lance has an unfairly bad rap,” he remarked, highlighting Stroll’s competitive edge against notable teammates like Sergio Perez, Nico Hülkenberg, Sebastian Vettel, and Fernando Alonso. “Any driver who gets to Formula 1 is clearly very good, but I think Lance is much better than people give him credit for,” Newey asserted.
Moreover, Newey expressed admiration for two-time world champion Fernando Alonso, indicating a promising synergy within the team. He remarked, “Fernando, he’s such a cool character,” drawing attention to the wealth of experience he brings.
As Newey begins development on the 2026 Aston Martin chassis, the team is focused on overcoming recent hurdles and improving performance, all while maintaining support for their drivers.
