Lance Stroll makes McLaren drivers quip after setting unwanted F1 record
04/19/2025 05:10 PM
Lance Stroll joked the McLaren drivers would have the most Q1 exits in F1 if they were racing for a back marker, after he claimed outright ownership of an unwanted record. The Canadian made F1 history, albeit unwelcome, for the most Q1 eliminations since the format was introduced in 2006 when he was knocked out of qualifying for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. Setting a lap time only good enough for P16 on the grid meant the Aston Martin driver took the record from Kevin Magnussen with 75 career Q1 exits . When this was put to him by RacingNews365 after the session at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, he said he heard it announced on the track tannoy system. "Yeah, Q1... I heard on the speaker," Stroll told media before landing a playful dig at Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri's expense. "Well, put the McLaren drivers in the Sauber for 10 years and they will have the most Q1 exits. It's car-dependent." It is the third time in five rounds this season that he has failed to safely navigate the first segment of qualifying. Explaining the reality of driving an AMR25 that has been struggling for pace, he added: "When you have fast cars, you save tyres and you go through to Q3. "When you have slow cars you throw a million sets in Q1 and most of the time you go out if that's the kind of pace you have, so it is what it is." Negative growth The result did not come as a surprise to Stroll, who contended that his car had not been quick enough to compete throughout the three free practice sessions. He highlighted how P16 was actually a step forward for him and the Silverstone squad. "We didn't really have the pace all weekend to go through Q1," the 26-year-old said. "We were P18 to P19 all weekend, now we're P16, so I think it was actually our most competitive session of the weekend, but we just need some more pace" When asked if he is finding Aston Martin's 2025 worse to drive than its car from last season, Stroll shared a telling observation. The three-time F1 podium finisher said: "I think in Q1 in '24 I did a [one minute] 28.2 [seconds], and I was P2 in Q1, so now I did a 28.6 and I'm P16, so..."
