Lance Stroll, no stranger to problems in Melbourne: "That's just how it is."

Suffering from further engine problems on his car, Lance Stroll was unable to participate in qualifying for the Australian Grand Prix. The Aston Martin driver spent most of the session in the garage, in a weekend already heavily disrupted by mechanical issues.

Published 07/03/2026 à 19:23

Zoé Ledent-Mouret

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Lance Stroll, no stranger to problems in Melbourne: "That's just how it is."

© Florent Gooden / DPPI

Already struggling since the start of the weekend in Melbourne (Australia), the team Aston Martin saw its difficulties continue on Saturday. The Honda power unit caused problems again, preventing Lance stroll to participate in the third free practice session and then in qualifying for the Australian Grand Prix.

"That's how it is."

The Canadian was therefore unable to sign a time contract, while his teammate Fernando AlonsoHe, however, managed to complete a few laps but failed to advance beyond Q1. Lacking a car Stroll, fully operational, watched the session from the garage while the rest of the field battled for grid positions. When questioned after the session, the 27-year-old driver remained true to his typically laconic style. "Yes, I mean, they're just problems. That's how it is."

While FP3 and then qualifying were taking place on track, the Aston Martin driver followed the session in a rather relaxed manner, although the desire to drive was obviously still there. “I was drinking a cappuccino while enjoying qualifying. So yeah, I mean, it was definitely hard to watch. I want to be out there and driving, doing some laps, but we’ve had so many problems this weekend and we just have to try and get some running in tomorrow. That’s the main thing, to race and learn what we can, try and work through our difficulties and just get some laps in tomorrow, that’s really the goal.”

Without a qualifying time, Stroll's participation in the race was briefly uncertain due to the 107% rule, but the FIA ​​ultimately allowed the Canadian to start from the back of the grid. It remains to be seen whether his car and that of Fernando Alonso, who qualified seventeenth, more than two seconds off the fastest time in Q1, will be able to complete more than the 25 laps announced by the British team for the Australian Grand Prix.

ALSO READ > Outside the 107% margin of error, Lance Stroll was ultimately selected for the Australian Grand Prix.

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