Is Lance Stroll Demotivated? No, But He's Being "Treated Unfairly" According to Mike Krack

Faced with questions about Lance Stroll's lack of motivation in F1, Mike Krack regrets that his driver is so criticized in the media and in sport, estimating that the gap between the Canadian and Fernando Alonso is "very small".

The years go by and the speeches are similar among Aston Martin. From time to time, Mike Krack allows himself a little media outing in order to defend his pilot, Lance stroll, regularly criticized for his disappointing sporting performances but also for his involvement – ​​or rather, lack thereof – in front of journalists and cameras. Indeed, in addition to having had a desperate season (24 points, 13th in the championship), the Canadian is not the most talkative character, nor the most jovial when it comes to speaking in front of the press. A withdrawn character that questions his motivation to be in Formula 1, a feeling reinforced after his blunder at the Brazilian Grand Prix where the 26-year-old driver crashed into the gravel trap on the formation lap.

Criticisms that come in addition to those – already present for a long time – of the filiation between Lance Stroll and his father, Lawrence Stroll, who is none other than the owner of Aston Martin and therefore of the British team. But according to Mike Krack, all these criticisms are unjustified and the Canadian is "treated unfairly" by Formula 1 media and sports figures. The former Aston Martin Team Principal – now responsible for the team on the track – still claims that the gap between Lance Stroll and his teammate Fernando Alonso is "very weak", despite the Spaniard's broad domination in 2024 (70 to 24 in terms of points, 19 to 5 in the qualifying duel).

« First of all, if you look at the gap he has with his teammate, who is one of the best of all time, it is very small. We have someone who is very serious about the development of the car, the driving in the simulator, the fitness and the constructive spirit in the meetings, assures the Luxembourger from Crash.net, who believes that Lance Stroll is judged primarily on his performances off the track rather than on it. He is judged primarily on how he handles his media duties. He is a racing driver and for me a racing driver has to drive first. We also know that Formula 1 has evolved, there is a lot of exposure, duties and media commitments. I think that is something that people really focus on.

Stroll "loves to drive" in Formula 1, assures Krack

Asked about Lance Stroll's motivation and passion for Formula 1, which doesn't seem that obvious in public, Mike Krack retorts by saying that the Canadian is " absolutely " passionate about his work with Aston Martin. When we had the three-week break [in the fall], Lance called me and asked if we could do a track day in an old car, because he wants to drive. That's the difference. It's a sport where there's no testing and we have someone who loves to drive, underlines the leader of the British team. It's very unfair when you read some of the comments and they are often written without much research, because it suits the public opinion, to fill a few lines. The image is really distorted. It's the case in all sports: there are the bad guys, the good guys, drawers to fill, and Formula 1 is the same."

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