F1 | Williams, Stroll: “I would never have imagined getting on the podium in my first year in Formula 1”

The 2017 was for Lance stroll the launching pad into the world of Formula 1: interviewed by Express & Star, the 18-year-old Canadian retraced some moments of his first World Championship with Williams, expressing his satisfaction with the results achieved. "In my first year I achieved some goals that I actually thought I would achieve in the next few seasons" – said Stroll. “I never imagined getting on the podium: it was a moment that made me very proud. But this must be just the beginning: I know that I can improve as a driver and be more competitive in all areas. Over the course of the year I have changed radically as a rider, I have learned a huge amount of things. I intend to come into the new season much stronger, both mentally and physically.".

Stroll then explained how he lives by the “pay driver” label: "I stay in my little bubble, that's what I try to do. There are always noises and distractions out there, you just have to stem them. People say many things, but the key thing for me is to stick to my work. That's what I did in Azerbaijan: I blocked everything else, now I do it in my life.".

Precisely the Azerbaijan GP, ​​which gave the Montreal driver the highest point of his 2017 and the first podium in his career: “In Baku I knew there were three very competitive drivers with faster cars chasing me for that podium place. I knew they would be on me until the last lap, until I crossed the finish line. I knew I couldn't make any mistakes: it wasn't easy to get on the podium, there were still thirty laps to go and I was in second position. It was a very challenging and exciting race, it was a valuable learning moment for me”.

Federico Martino