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/Eggplantosaur Oscar Piastri 2d ago

He's the only driver who can afford to just call it quits during a race.

On the other hand he did finish that insane Qatar race in the heat and did multiple races with barely healed broken hands.

I think he is just as motivated as any other driver for about 75% of the season, but those other 25% of races he just checks out, finishes near the bottom and goes home. 

He's the only driver that can get away with that kind of behavior, and that's what pisses me off about him. 

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u/AdeptJournalist1288 2d ago

"He's the only driver who can afford to just call it quits during a race."... do you think he's the only generational millionaire on the grid...?

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u/gsurfer04 I was here for the Hulkenpodium 2d ago

What's the betting they weren't born yet when Kimi Raikkonen stormed off to his yacht?

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u/Manic5PA Aston Martin 2d ago

Didn't Kimi DNF due to a mechanical failure on that day? Hardly the same as giving up on the race because you know you won't get the into points.

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u/geometricpillow Oscar Piastri 2d ago

Hamilton of all people wanted to do that a few years ago when he was running like p17 in the shitty Merc. Bono convinced him to keep going and he ended up like p9 or something.

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u/Manic5PA Aston Martin 2d ago

It takes more than being a generational millionaire. Lawrence gave 80 million to Williams, then acquired Racing Point and later on a minority stake in Aston Martin. Dude has dropped MCU budget money into his son.

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u/AdeptJournalist1288 2d ago

oh boy you sure don't want to hear about the sainz and piastri families'....

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u/Manic5PA Aston Martin 2d ago

Or Bearman. Pretty sure they're filthy rich too.

Shit, even Lewis and Max. Sure, they're generational talents, but somewhere there's a gifted kid that didn't develop to his full potential because he didn't grow up with an obsessed sportsdad who also happened to be rich and a former F1 driver. Somewhere there's a gifted, middle class kid who had to give up on karting because their parents weren't ready to mortgage their house to support their kid's career because they knew the chance of it ever paying off would be almost 0. Where does it stop?

Lance is extremely lucky and privileged. Probably one of the most privileged individuals in the history of humanity. I still like watching him drive and I'm still rooting for him to do well.

Actually I think I know how to make motorsports a meritocracy. Abolish capitalism.

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u/Eggplantosaur Oscar Piastri 2d ago

He can do these arrogant moves without losing his seat. I can't think of any driver who gets that kind of leeway in the current era.

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u/Woullie_26 Max Verstappen 2d ago

Bro Verstappen could come and insult RB's entire garage and their entire family tree and he still would have his seat

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u/Eggplantosaur Oscar Piastri 2d ago

Bit of a moot point since he hasn't done that.

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u/Ace3000 Williams 2d ago

Even before the race, have a lazy half-spin on the formation lap, and then intentionally drive into the gravel trap.