Stroll on updates Aston Martin: 'Hope we get closer to Red Bull'
General
Lance Stroll finished fourth in Australia, his highest finishing position of the 2023 season so far. But at his home Grand Prix, the Canadian driver is aiming for more, and Aston Martin team owner Lawrence Stroll has expressed hope that there will be two AMR23s on the podium in Montreal on Sunday. Stroll Jr. hopes to give his father and his own team that success.
Aston Martin had perhaps their worst weekend of the season in Spain. For just the second time this season, there was no podium finish, and with sixth and seventh place, they lost out to Mercedes, who went second in the constructors' championship. In Canada, the British team hope to prove that they are still the second force in Formula 1, behind Red Bull Racing.
Updates for Aston Martin
Updates should start to help with that, but what does Stroll Jr. think the impact of the new parts is going to be? "It's definitely a step forward. How big of a step forward? We'll see. I mean, they're not huge updates, but every little bit helps. So, I hope we can get closer to Red Bull, which is the top team at the moment, and also in front of Mercedes too, which is our main competitor."
To finish alongside Alonso on the podium in Canada this weekend, at least one RB19 has to be beaten. Stroll: "Well, let's try and make them happy and make it happen," he told Formula1.com.
Rain would not be bad
Alonso and Stroll have both proved on several occasions that they can handle rain well. From Friday to Sunday, rainfall is predicted in and around the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, so the Aston Martin drivers may be able to take advantage of it. Along with the rain, the AMR23 has a lot of downforce and is slower on the straights than the competition, so rain would play further into the hands of the Aston Martin car in that respect.