Lance Stroll

Lance Stroll has been on the F1 grid since 2017, which makes him one of the more experienced drivers in the paddock despite still being just 27. He burst onto the scene with a podium at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in only his eighth career race, and his tenure with the team — through its evolution from Force India to Racing Point to Aston Martin — has given him a deep, unique understanding of the organisation’s DNA.

Here’s what people don’t always give Stroll enough credit for: his speed in mixed conditions is genuinely among the best on the grid. That front-row qualifying performance in the rain at Monza, the pole position at the 2020 Turkish Grand Prix — those are serious results. Yes, being the son of team owner Lawrence Stroll brings additional scrutiny (that’s just the reality), but his longevity in the sport and consistent points-scoring runs have proven he merits his place through his own talent and hard work.

At the Australian Grand Prix, Stroll brings the glamour of the Aston Martin brand to Albert Park. His experience around the circuit from multiple race weekends gives him a solid foundation, and Melbourne’s conditions — changeable weather, demanding track evolution — actually play to some of his greatest strengths.

Career Statistics

Driver Profile

Lance Stroll enters 2026 with the most experience of anyone at Aston Martin, and the new technical regulations give him a genuine opportunity to start fresh alongside teammate Fernando Alonso. The team’s significant investment in infrastructure and the switch to Honda power units create an environment of change that could really work in Stroll’s favour. That qualifying ability, especially in wet conditions, remains a potent weapon in his arsenal, and the 2026 season offers him the chance to remind the entire paddock of his considerable talent. Don’t sleep on him.

NC — Staff sports writer, australiafootball.com