Rock 'n Stroll . . . The Stroller Thread.

Lawrence Strulovitch is an arrogant type and dreamed about having the kid starting the career directly at Ferrari as a test driver and then as a driver, much like Massa. Why Lance was selected, at 11 years old, to be part of Academia Ferrari? It didn't make any sense but his father was the owner of the Montreal Ferrari dealership and one of the biggest Ferrari collectors in the world... When Ferrari finally gave signs that they weren't interested in Lance's talent, the wallet "sang" strong (not sure if it is also a English expression) and they turned the kid into a Williams development driver.

I disagree on Piquet Jr. but that would be a long discussion.

Yes, the Strolls did try to mimic Verstappen at all cost. That I can affirm because I witnessed a bit of it "in loco". During their karting time the Verstappens seemed to be, or pretended to be, very much a "middle class" family. While it was not uncommon to see things such as Stroll's F1-type motorhome at the kart track or Nikita Mazepin (another super rich driver from Russia) using private jets to travel to the races, the Verstappens spent way less money. First of all, Jos worked and fought hard to find teams in which they would not have to pay. Parts, engine rentals, tires, etc., he would do whatever it takes to get them for free. When Max stepped up at the KZ class, Jos was himself the engine tuner (if I am not wrong, Max won the world championship with an engine built by Jos). They also stayed in cheap hotels and rented the cheapest cars when the races where not close to home, or would simply face long drives in their own car. Max has had a "military discipline" and was a very humble kid compared to the other drivers. I guess Lawrence Stroll thought that if the "poor" Verstappens were doing so good, he could follow their footsteps by doing whatever it was at his reach: buying a super mega motorhome, pampering Luca Baldisserri, acquiring Prema, etc. They just forgot that Max is a true super talented driver...

Indeed, it would have been much much better if Stroll had done some years at GP3 and then GP2 before getting directly into a championship-winning team..

 

Great post.

 

Nice post on Stroll and Verstappen family.

 

Great post.

The Verstappen's aren't ''loaded'' per se...Jos is ''only'' worth 5 mil, Max is actually richer than him already . Certainly not poor, but definitely not in the position to spend like crazy a la Stroll

 

Sounds miserable.

 

Welcome to the real world!

Pete

 

Exactly.

 

Probably the first time in Lance's short life that his dad can not buy him an advantage over the competition. In some ways, I feel bad for him.

 

+1 he's learning the limits of life and wealth. If he fails that in itself will make a great story easily sold and told.

 

I don't really feel that bad. They knew what they're getting into, and if you have to buy yourself into F1 and almost ''buy'' their chances at better success in lower formulae...surely they had to know what they would be up against.

F3 et all may be a spec series but the engines still varied in HP, some engines simply healthier than others. I don't blame them for getting the best engines, in the same position I'd have done the same...but he was never head and shoulders above anyone, despite the advantages he enjoyed.

 

This is what happens when the dad is making all the decisions…

 

+1...yup...his dad did his son a dis-service

 

Possibly-- but its amazing what children can extract and influence parents to do as well....

 

But is it in his blood???

I'm beyond thinking it is. Oh well.

I only wish my father had been a billionaire....

 

I just hope the Kid doens't end up hurting himself or someone else...he clearly seems to be out of his depth, and an f.1 acr can be a very dangerous thing in the hands of an overpressured teenager lacking experience and probably talent.

 

Agreed. I was hoping not, but.....

 

Max's dad also did the decisions. Jos said now that Max is at Red Bull, he plans to step away.

It isn't making the decisions for a kid, it is the decisions made.

 

That's the official figure...

 

Sophie Kumpen, Max's mother, currently works for the local OCMW (Public Social Welfare Centre). She says that her experience there helps her keeping Max's feet firmly on the ground.

 

That's true, but don't forget that Max was pulled into F1 by real F1 teams. RB talent scouted him and were desperate to have him drive their cars. Jos clearly helped the process via his marketing of Max, but Max earned his seat on merit - his dad didn't buy it. That's the key difference.

 

… and talent.

 

Don't be so sure that would be a good thing......

 

From that article: "He also embarked on a round-the-world test program with a 2014 Williams, supported by a staff of 20, five Mercedes engineers and two engines prepared specifically by Mercedes. Stroll's F1 test program went to Silverstone, Hungary, Monza, Austria, Barcelona, Abu Dhabi, Austin and Sochi.

Williams' Pat Symonds admits: "The last rookie with that many kilometers of testing for his debut was Jacques Villeneuve." "

Of course, Villeneuve showed up and outqualified his experienced team mate in the first race, putting the car on pole, and led the race until he ran wide at one corner and damaged an oil radiator, leading to overheating which meant he had to back off and finish 2nd to Hill. He continued to challenge his teammate Hill all season... Stroll, on the other hand, is not within one second of the decidedly mid-fielder Massa.

I guess Villeneuve had some talent after all!

 

'Not a fool. 'Don't come from anywhere near close.... A little bit and support wadda' helped my ambition.