Former Formula 1 world champion Nico Rosberg has expressed concerns about Lance Stroll’s recent struggles at Aston Martin, suggesting that if the Canadian driver cannot narrow the performance gap to teammate Fernando Alonso, Stroll might make the decision to pursue other opportunities in the sport.
Stroll’s 2023 season faced a challenging start due to a pre-season cycling accident that left him with broken bones. Despite the setback, he showed promise in the opening races of the season. However, as the season has progressed, Stroll has struggled to keep pace with Alonso, who has notched up podium finishes while Stroll’s points-scoring results have lagged behind.
In recent races, Stroll’s performance deficit to Alonso has widened. He has scored just 12 points in the last seven races compared to Alonso’s 71, resulting in a substantial 123-point gap between the two teammates. This performance gap has also had repercussions for Aston Martin in the Constructors’ Championship, as they have slipped from an early-season second place to fourth, trailing Mercedes and Ferrari.
Nico Rosberg, speaking on the Sky Sports podcast, expressed his puzzlement at Stroll’s declining performance, stating, “I’m not really sure what’s happened to Lance Stroll there because he’s a very decent driver.” Rosberg highlighted Stroll’s earlier ability to stay close to Alonso on occasion, citing examples where Stroll finished within proximity to the Spaniard.
However, Rosberg emphasized the importance of both drivers performing at a competitive level for the team’s success. He stated, “I think long-term for Aston, they can’t really allow themselves to have one driver who’s that far off. So either Lance gets back to where he can be and where he should be, or they’re gonna have to start thinking about changing things around there with a second driver.”
Rosberg also noted that having two quick drivers benefits the team in various ways, including enhancing the setup work and bringing a different dynamic to the team’s overall performance.
In summary, Nico Rosberg has raised concerns about Lance Stroll’s declining performance relative to his teammate Fernando Alonso at Aston Martin. The widening performance gap and its impact on the team’s championship standing have prompted questions about the team’s driver lineup for the future, with Rosberg stressing the importance of having two competitive drivers to maximize the team’s potential in Formula 1.
