Williams: Lance Stroll closer and closer to F1 debut

Lance Stroll is getting closer to making his Formula 1 debut in 2017. According to several rumors coming from the Monza paddock, the young Canadian has already agreed with the Grove team to take the place of Felipe Massa next season, who had announced his retirement at the end of the year during the Grand Prix weekend Premio d'Italia, leaving the seat free for 2017.

Obviously to debut in Formula 1 next season, Stroll would need the superlicense which, for some years, has been achievable by obtaining results in the minor leagues. As for the Canadian, this shouldn't be a problem: thanks to his victory in the F4 championship in 2015 and his fifth place in last year's F3 championship, a third place finish this season in F3 would be enough for Stroll to obtain the superlicence. Age wouldn't be a problem either, as he is expected to come of age at the end of October.

Originally, however, the plan for next year was to take him to GP2 with the Prema team, owned by Lance Stroll's father, Lawrence, in order to make him progress step by step. However, the excellent performances that the young Canadian has shown in recent years seem to have convinced his father to let him take the big step, moving from the Williams academy, which he joined this season after numerous seasons in the Ferrari Driver Academy, to the official Formula 1 team.

Even on the part of Grove's team there was the idea of ​​leaving him a few more years in the minor leagues to grow, momentarily focusing on Jenson Button. The failure to reach an agreement with the Englishman, who decided to stay at McLaren, accelerated everything: this is why it seems that Stroll is also expected to test a 2014 Williams soon, in order to accumulate kilometres.

Gianluca D'Alessandro