Shocked Stroll speechless after bagging maiden F1 pole
Shocked Stroll speechless after bagging maiden F1 pole
Lance Stroll said he was “shocked” after bouncing back from a tough run of form to claim his first career pole position in Saturday’s rain-hit qualifying session for the Turkish Grand Prix.
The Racing Point driver became the first Canadian to claim the front spot on the grid since Jacques Villeneuve in 1997 after a frantic finish which saw Red Bull’s Max Verstappen fail to better his time.
Stroll said: “We dream about these moments growing up. To put it on pole, it’s a special moment for me, one of the biggest highlights of my career for sure. I can’t put it into words right now. I’m shocked.
“It’s such a great way to bounce back after a rough few weeks, since Mugello it’s been a rough ride for me, so it feels good. Feels really good right now. I had the confidence in the car and nailed pretty much every corner.”
The decision to run on intermediate tyres in the later stages of Q3, a decision team principal Otmar Szafnauer revealed was made by Stroll himself, proved key to the surprise pole position, with the Canadian securing pole on his final lap of the afternoon.
Team-mate Sergio Perez, who starts third, ran intermediates throughout the session but had used the best of the rubber in the wetter earlier phase of Q3.
“Once I got on the inter I knew we were in good shape,” said Stroll. “It was pretty hooked up for these conditions. I was under a lot of pressure. I had Valterri spun in front of me then I had one lap at the end to do it.
“I knew we were up there at the front, listening to my engineer he was giving me feedback every lap on where we were. But in these conditions you don’t have time to think about where you are it’s just the next corner in front of you.”
Before you go...
Stroll stuns Formula 1 with first pole by a Canadian for 23 years since Jacques Villeneuve
Red Bull to keep Perez and Albon waiting until after season's end
Related
Change your timezone:
Latest News
F1 News Today: Team announce SHOCK hire after quitting rivals as Wolff speaks out on Hamilton behaviour
- 22 minutes ago
Vettel announces F1 return as FIA single Mercedes out for Miami checks - GPFans F1 Recap
- Yesterday 23:57
F1 team announce SHOCK signing weeks after rival departure
- Yesterday 22:57
Former team boss quizzed on role in Newey's Red Bull exit
- Yesterday 21:57
RB reveal STRIKING new livery ahead of Miami GP
- Yesterday 20:57
EXCLUSIVE: Insider claims F1 Academy and W Series couldn't co-exist
- Yesterday 19:57
Related news
F1 star has 'no interest' in continuing TROUBLED F1 career
F1 star reveals SPLIT with key team ally just moments after heroic act
F1 star confirms END of key relationship
F1 star needs 'RESET' after massive crash
F1 Standings
Drivers
- Oliver Bearman
- Charles Leclerc
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Pierre Gasly
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio Pérez
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Logan Sargeant
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Kevin Magnussen
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Valtteri Bottas
- Zhou Guanyu
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
Races
- Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2024
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Australia 2024
- MSC Cruises Grand Prix of Japan 2024
- Grand Prix of China 2024
- Miami Grand Prix 2024
- Gran Premio dell'Emilia Romagna 2024
- Grand Prix of Monaco 2024
- Grand Prix du Canada 2024
- Gran Premio de España 2024
- Grand Prix of Austria 2024
- Grand Prix of Great Britain 2024
- Grand Prix of Hungary 2024
- Grand Prix of Belgium 2024
- Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Italy 2024
- Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2024
- Grand Prix of Singapore 2024
- Grand Prix of the United States 2024
- Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2024
- Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2024
- Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024
- Qatar Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2024
About GPFans
GPFans is a multi-platform, multi-language brand dedicated to Formula One coverage. We bring you all the ins and outs of the sport, 24/7, everything from up-to-the-minute news and features to the latest viral stories and clips.We believe that a new generation of exciting, outspoken drivers will make F1 more popular than ever before, and we want to give our users access to as much of their heroes as possible, on and off the track. From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo to Sebastian Vettel, we provide in-depth analysis of every every Grand Prix in the season, from Australia to Abu Dhabi.
With Formula One under the new ownership of Liberty Media, how the sport is being covered is evolving, and GPFans will look to be at the heart of this progression into new media, as one of the fastest-growing sites covering the king of motorsports.
Follow us on your favorite social media channel
Corporate & Media
Innovatieweg 20C7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860