Stroll: 'Not many expectations' ahead of Hungarian qualifiers

3rd on the grid does not constitute the best ranking on the starting grid of a Grand Prix F1 for the Canadian Lance stroll. The Racing Point driver started the Italian Grand Prix at Monza in 2017 in second position, taking advantage of various penalties that had been imposed on these competitors.

This Saturday in Hungary, it was his own performance which allowed the son of the boss Lawrence Stroll to climb behind the two Mercedes W11 from Lewis Hamilton et Valtteri Bottas.

“I did the work today, Stroll comments. I'm delighted and the car was really strong throughout the weekend. We had the rhythm and it was just putting everything together during all the sessions.

The car has come so far since last year. Last year, we were in 1'17″5. There are track differences, but we gained three seconds. There are a lot of improvements.

We have developed this car and to have been able to bring this package from the first race makes me happy. My expectations... I didn't have many. I knew I had to work on several things. Throughout qualifying I improved in a few corners. I am very happy. »

Like the Mercedes in front of him, Lance Stroll, just like his teammate Sergio Pérez, 4th in qualifying despite a feeling of dizziness felt during the session, will be able to start the race with medium tires, after having achieved his best lap in Q2 on this compound.

“It's obviously a gamble in Q2 but it's going to put us in a good position for tomorrow, so I'm really happy that we managed to move onto the mediums. » concludes the Canadian who will, however, have to be wary of Ferrari, on soft tires on the first stint tomorrow.

Stroll will, however, have a golden opportunity to at least match his best result in F1, a third place achieved at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in 2017, during his time with Williams Racing.