Exploring Ralf Schumacher’s Bold Claims: Aston Martin’s Driver Dilemma
Nov.19 - Ralf Schumacher has renewed his criticism of Lance Stroll - while also suggesting Aston Martin will eventually need an entirely new driver lineup.
Speaking on Sky Deutschland, Schumacher said Aston Martin is "obviously looking for drivers", pointing to Stroll's qualifying deficit to Fernando Alonso.
"The qualifying performance is zero versus infinity, so what more can you say?" he said. "I know Aston Martin is very sensitive about this, but it's simple - it's disastrous."
Schumacher, banned from interviewing Aston Martin figures earlier this year following similar criticism, stressed he was not calling Stroll completely uncompetitive.
"In the race, he can make his mark here and there," Schumacher admitted. "But when you're consistently slower than Alonso - an exceptional talent, but at the end of his career - you also have to be realistic."
Despite that, Schumacher said Stroll is not the team's biggest issue.
"The car is the biggest problem," he said. "Stroll can remain a very good number two, although that has everything to do with paternal pride. It's his (Lawrence Stroll's) money, his team, so he calls the shots."
"But from the outside, you probably need to bring in two new drivers."
Schumacher has recently floated the idea of a future Charles Leclerc-Oscar Piastri pairing at Aston Martin, while Max Verstappen remains loosely linked with a reunion with a Newey-designed car as well.
As for billionaire team owner Lawrence Stroll, Schumacher said bluntly: "He should take off his rose-tinted glasses and face reality."
6 F1 Fan comments on “Exploring Ralf Schumacher’s Bold Claims: Aston Martin’s Driver Dilemma”
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Ralf's points are perfectly valid for a change.
Agreed
I'm not sure Lance would make a very good number two. He can qualify and drive well, and is among those rare drivers who can be bafflingly good in the wet, but not in the dry! His form is all over the place. Needs consistency.
I'm sure the goal is to get Lance a world championship. For that, he will need a huge car advantage. His last chance might be 2027, but it really depends on the car. If Newey can deliver it, then Lance might get a couple of years to try and win. I somehow doubt that Newey can fix this team, as he can't man the pit stops, screw the cars together and make the tea. Let's see. I think even Alonso will need a big car advantage at this stage. The likes of Leclerc, George and Lando will be hard to beat in similar cars... and then there's Max. If he somehow moves on from F1 before Alonso, they'll all breathe a sigh of relief.
Valid points.
You defence of a very poor driver is admirable. But really "he can drive and qualify well" he's something like 19-1 in qualifying deficit to a 44 year old. He has zero chance of being a WDC and he's only got the job because of daddy, he's blocking potential Bearman, Hadjar's etc
He can drive and qualify well. The qualifying part has been very rare of late. I'm thinking more about the likelihood he will be dropped. He has to fail to win in the best car for a couple of years, I think. It would have to be a car so much better than the rest that I don't think it's likely in modern F1. Even Alonso might struggle to get the car advantage he needs, which would be less than Stroll. I'm rephrasing what I've already said, however. I don't share the criticism of him based on conditions out of his control (his birth), but he has had enough time, especially since there is so much talent available now. Only the investment in Stroll by Stroll is keeping him there.