Lance Stroll has set a new, unwanted record. After the Canadian was eliminated in the first qualifying session during the race weekend in Saudi Arabia, he officially became the driver with the most dropouts in Q1. Stroll defended himself by stating that this has everything to do with the car, also taking a swipe at both McLaren drivers. They too could be record holders in a lesser vehicle.
After Lance Stroll qualified sixteenth in Jeddah, he officially became the record holder for dropouts in Q1. Since making his Formula 1 debut with the Williams team in 2017, he has been stranded seventy-five times in the first qualifying session. He took over the record from Danish Kevin Magnussen, who bid farewell to Formula 1 last year.
‘Depends on the car’
Admittedly, both Stroll and Magnussen have not always driven for the most competitive teams. Both often competed for midfield teams or even the tail-enders. When Stroll was asked about this unwanted record, he confirmed that it mainly has to do with the car. “I already heard it on the speaker,” the 26-year-old driver responded after the qualification. “If you put the McLaren drivers in a Sauber for ten years, they would have the most exits in Q1. It all depends on the car.”
“If you have a fast car, you can save tires and still make it to Q3,” Stroll added. “But if you have a slow car, you can wear out millions of tires in Q1, and then you often still get knocked out because you simply don’t have the pace.” It should be noted, however, that Fernando Alonso did manage to advance to Q2 in Jeddah. In the championship, the Spaniard has not yet scored any points, while Lance Stroll’s counter stands at ten points.
