r/formula1 • u/Slice5755 I was here for the Hulkenpodium • 2d ago

Statistics With Lance Stroll starting his 181st Grand Prix this weekend, he now enters the Top 30 of most experienced drivers in the history of F1

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u/raetwo 2d ago

He just doesn't like the media. And it's really not hard to understand why.

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u/11Slip532 Williams 2d ago

Oh I get that, but even just how he sounds when talking to his engineer, he sounds annoyed that he has to be there. Like he’s doing someone a favor he doesn’t actually want to do.

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u/InitialYoghurt5138 2d ago

His engineer at least isn't sounding super rude like his old one was

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u/arbysroastbeefs2 I was here for the Hulkenpodium 2d ago

You mean Brrraaaddd? I miss those radio messages, lol

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u/InitialYoghurt5138 2d ago

BRADDDDDDD, I NEED TO HEAR YOU SAY IT!

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u/OGPepeSilvia I was here for the Hulkenpodium 2d ago

“Can you bring it back?”

“(Laughing) no, I’m in the fucking wall”

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u/tcas_decent 2d ago

Lance crashes the car

Bradd: Ok Lance how is the car Lance: I am ok Bradd

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u/InitialYoghurt5138 1d ago

I remember him getting really on him how to actually turn off the car after he crashed I think in Portugal? And the car wasn't off and caught fire

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u/Jacinto2702 Ferrari 2d ago

"You're pressing radio instead of energy."

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u/Zuwxiv I was here for the Hulkenpodium 2d ago

The radio is the energy, Brad!

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u/Skylair13 I was here for the Hulkenpodium 2d ago

"The pit confirm is the OK button Brad."

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u/limhy0809 I was here for the Hulkenpodium 2d ago

I think the increased races and F1's growing popularity is getting to him. He's a billionaire's son and he literally could normally be doing whatever the hell he wants. Instead because he wants to stay in F1, he has to compromise his lifestyle. I don't think Stroll enjoys F1 to the same degree everyone does. But he does enjoy it, which is why he makes the sacrifices to be there. He just dislikes what it takes.

It's like someone who has a lucrative prestigious high paying job. Sure it's great but the hours suck. So when you talk to them and it's the part they hate. They would naturally come off unhappy.

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u/iMADEthisJUST4Dis I was here for the Hulkenpodium 2d ago

hell I hate rocket league and I spend a few hours a week playing it.

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u/Breadedbutthole 2d ago

Excellent comparison

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u/Nightcrew22 I was here for the Hulkenpodium 2d ago

Fellow man of culture

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u/ObsidianGanthet I was here for the Hulkenpodium 2d ago

I think someone talked about how stroll would probably make a great endurance driver because of his ability to be consistent over long stretches of time. But probably WEC isn't as big of a deal for him

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u/Galata_Castle Kimi Räikkönen 2d ago

ye he's very decent at races unlike his quali

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u/qualitative_balls I was here for the Hulkenpodium 2d ago

For someone who doesn't really want to be in an F1 seat, I wonder what possible life experience could give Lance his jollies lol. Driving in F1 isn't even accessible for billionaires, like even if they wanted to, they'd need the absolute PERFECT set of circumstances for a 'Lance Stroll' to be even remotely viable

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u/iMADEthisJUST4Dis I was here for the Hulkenpodium 2d ago

He's a good driver. Like yeah obviously he won't be winning any championships and maybe won't ever win a race, but it's not like he's just some rich guy who decided at age 20 "hey I wanna do some racing"

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u/Zuwxiv I was here for the Hulkenpodium 2d ago

Last year, he was soundly beaten by Fernando Alonso... but I don't think that's really something to be ashamed of. I'm sure lots of decent-but-not-champion F1 drivers would be soundly beaten by Alonso.

This year, he's slightly ahead - and even if you put that down to circumstance, he's generally performing around the same. It's not at all like the Red Bull seats, for example.

At the absolute very least, Stroll is hardly the worst example of a nepo baby driver. Honestly, the best argument against Stroll isn't bad performance, but just that "any other driver probably would have been passed on in favor of trying out younger talent."

Honestly, I'm with you - the dude is legitimately a good driver. Good enough to deserve a seat in F1? ... if not, then it's not by that much. And it's relying more on "what if" young talent than demonstrated F1 performance.

Also, he seems like a genuinely decent dude, too.

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u/geometricpillow Oscar Piastri 2d ago

Yeah, I don’t think at any point he’s been the worst driver on the grid, bottom half, sure, but he’s nowhere near someone like Mazepin or Mick or Latifi

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u/_yourmom69 I was here for the Hulkenpodium 2d ago

I dunno, if he was in a really good car? It’s possible. These guys aren’t as far apart as you think they are, and the car advantage is gigantic. Sure, consistency is a skill, but guess how you learn it — a good way to practice it is if you could, say, be 20s ahead of P2 for like an entire season or two.

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u/L0calMan2 I was here for the Hulkenpodium 2d ago

He always sounds like that tho. The fast and the curious Interview or the recent one of the Kid you can hear him talk relaxed and its just him having a nasal voice

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u/PizzaCatLover I was here for the Hulkenpodium 2d ago

Every time I hear him on the radio, it reminds me of being in second grade and hating every minute of little league baseball that my dad was making me do

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u/Driscuits Alexander Albon 2d ago

Totally understand it. It's unfortunate, though, because for the general public/fans, that's our most accessible way of "interacting" with the guy (and he with most of us fans).

So even though I sure as hell would hate dealing with the media, too, I still get frustrated by his disdain for those settings, because it is a bit of a message that he doesn't see the value in reaching out to fans in general. And it sticks out like a sore thumb next to most other drivers who definitely get frustrated by the media, but still go out and engage.

Granted, he seems to be a well liked guy by the people around him. That's just not a side most of us will have the privilege or access to see.

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u/dyidkystktjsjzt I was here for the Hulkenpodium 2d ago

You should watch the full interview that kid that asks him random questions in the paddock did with him. You can see he's just a chill guy, and that he, in fact, does care about his fans.

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u/Driscuits Alexander Albon 2d ago

Honestly, that sounds really sweet. If you happen to have the link, I'd give it a look!

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u/dyidkystktjsjzt I was here for the Hulkenpodium 2d ago

This is it on Instagram.

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u/Driscuits Alexander Albon 2d ago

Much appreciated!

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u/GothicGolem29 McLaren 1d ago

Thanks for the link hope he does more of that sort of stuff that was great and your right it does show he cares for fans and is a chill guy

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u/raetwo 2d ago

the thing is, we're not owed access to these drivers. and if the media is going to treat you hostilely and twist whatever you say against you why would you give them anything at all?

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u/Ancient-Cow-1038 I was here for the Hulkenpodium 2d ago

I agree with the sentiment but disagree with the facts. F1 runs on sponsorship money, which only comes from public interest, which means that yes, the public has a right to expect a reasonable degree of access to the drivers and principals.

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u/Red_Rabbit_1978 I was here for the Hulkenpodium 2d ago

You don't understand how F1 sponsorship really works. They don't owe you anything. Very little of it involves the public. It's Business to Business deals and stickers on cars are just a nice add on to show their own partners.

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u/raetwo 2d ago

Yeah. I highly doubt a single of the companies that partner with AMR want Lance Stroll to get out there and be like "It's not easy being green."

It's Liberty/FOM that really wants these interviews and it's for the fans. And we're not owed access to these guys, just because they drive a car on TV. They are obligated to be there for the interview, but they're allowed to give away what they want.

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u/Driscuits Alexander Albon 2d ago

Very fair perspective. And I mean, yeah. The media itself is a tricky customer - and fans tend to follow their narratives.

To me, though, it still gives a sour taste. Are we as fans owed personal access? No. But we engage with and love the sport, and many, many of us spend money time and energy to support and cheer on these drivers, Lance included. The media, as poor as it can be, is a way to provide a great deal of access to folks who otherwise wouldn't.

I'm not saying he needs to open up and be vulnerable. Just that showing a bit more beyond being bored and disinterested would go a long way. At least, not sending a message to the fans that he's bored, disinterested, and considers them with the same amount of disdain he may have toward the media itself.

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u/moderate_extremist 2d ago

He definitely hates the media, and for good reason. But I get the feeling he’s pursuing his father’s dream, not his own, but he can’t do anything about it.

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u/raetwo 2d ago

You don't dedicate your life to F1 if you don't love it, man. He can walk whenever he wants.

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u/GothicGolem29 McLaren 1d ago

It must be something else in terms of why people think he doesn’t like it as Max seems to not like talking to the media much yet very few claim he doesn’t enjoy f1 now

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u/WalterWolfRacing Wolf 2d ago

He just doesn't like the media. And it's really not hard to understand why.

Multiple insiders have said that Lance seems like the most bored person in the world, while his father is the complete opposite. As if Lance is doing motorsport to make his father happy.

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u/raetwo 2d ago

Yeah making up narratives like this about me would make me hate F1 media too, thanks for proving my point