OCTOBER 19, 2025 Drugovich reveals Stroll almost quit F1 Felipe Drugovich has revealed just how close he came to securing a Formula 1 seat with Aston Martin - claiming Lance Stroll "almost didn't continue" for 2024 before ultimately deciding to stay. Image Unavailable, Please Login Lance Stroll, United States GP 2025 © Aston Martin Racing Speaking on Brazil's Na Ponta dos Dedos podcast, the 2022 Formula 2 champion confirmed long-rumoured speculation that Stroll had considered quitting Formula 1 several times in recent years - only to be convinced otherwise by his father, Aston Martin team owner Lawrence Stroll. I renewed with them for '24 and '25, with not only hope, but actual conversations about me taking over in '24 - even with the team manager, Drugovich revealed. "And there came a time when other drivers were, perhaps, not wanting to continue. "Anyway, it didn't work out for me to enter in 2023, and at the end of that year it was very clear that perhaps it would work out to enter in '24. And it was there that people seemed to start to shake things up. "There was going to be an opportunity, and they put the contract in front of me to renew for '24 and '25. I said, 'I'm in the right place, at the right time, let's go.' It seemed like the right moment again. It was much closer than everyone thought. It was very close to Lance maybe not continuing in 2024. Ultimately, Stroll stayed on - leaving Drugovich to remain in a reserve role before now switching to Formula E. Nothing to judge against the circumstances, Drugovich continued. "Because I have nothing to do with it, and I too, if I were in their place, perhaps I would do the same thing. But from my perspective, it's complicated, because I really thought everything was opening up, everything was going well. They put the contract in front of me again for me to renew because it was going to happen - and then it ended up not happening, and I'm stuck with this. It is what it is - there's not much for me to cry about now. A collision with Esteban Ocon in Saturday's sprint in Austin earned Stroll a five-place grid penalty for Sunday's grand prix. The stewards found the Canadian wholly at fault and also applied two penalty points on his license.
The problem with Stroll being in F-1 is this . . . it is a dangerous sport. And he is not qualified to be there, which puts the lives of others at risk. I know, I know, this is being dramatic. Until he causes a wreck with very tragic outcomes. Just like all the hand wringing over the halo until Grosjean kept his head--even though he was almost burned alive.
He is a marginal player who continues to make rookie mistakes. He has stopped improving about 5 years ago lol. Time to manage the yacht crew and plan what to do next with his 'life'. The pressure he must feel lol.
