Struggling Lance Stroll angrily shoved his performance coach aside after qualifying for the Qatar Grand Prix in a dismal 17th place.
The Canadian has been blown away by his Aston Martin teammate Fernando Alonso all season – and that was the case again at the Lusail International Circuit, where the Spaniard qualified in a clean fourth place. The gap between the pair when Stroll was eliminated was more than a second.
After a clearly agitated Stroll got out of his car, trainer Henry Howell appeared to try to guide the driver out of the garage through another exit. The Bangor University-trained osteopath then put his arm around Stroll’s waist, but was sent away moments later.
Stroll, 24, was tight-lipped in his subsequent media interviews. He described his mood as ‘s***’. And when asked what didn’t appeal to him, he snapped, “I don’t know.” When he finally asked how he would handle the rest of the weekend, he said, “Keep driving.” Then he walked away.
Stroll’s future at Aston Martin has come into focus in recent weeks as his form has dipped. The Canadian is on 47 points compared to Alonso’s 174 points, and it seems the pressure of that contrast is weighing on him.
The picture is clouded by the fact that Stroll’s father, fashion billionaire Lawrence, owns the team and has sponsored his son’s advancement through the ranks.
Struggling Lance Stroll angrily shoved his performance coach aside after qualifying 17th
The Canadian finished over a second behind his Aston Martin teammate Fernando Alonso
