F1 2026: Aston Martin need to axe Lance Stroll if they want to be taken seriously

Lance Stroll, Aston Martin, Abu Dhabi, 2024 — Photo: © IMAGO

F1 Opinion

Aston Martin need to axe Lance Stroll if they want to be taken seriously

It's time for the Stroll family to have a tough conversation

Matthew Hobkinson Lead Editor

F1 Editor & Journalist

Thursday 15 January 2026 12:57

It’s never nice to advocate for someone to lose their job. But when there are only 22 roles available, something has to give.

The ‘nepo baby’ movement has quietened down a touch in recent months but it will never truly go away. You still get it in all walks of life, naturally.

Some get lucrative office jobs following in their parents’ footsteps. Some get gigs in Hollywood. Some though, get to drive fast cars (not very well) for a living.

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If you’ve read the headline and clicked on this article, you’re probably aware where this is going.

Enter Lance Stroll.

The Canadian F1 star who has secured three podiums (yes, really) and a pole position (seriously) during his 190 grands prix. He was the youngest rookie (at the time) to secure a podium in 2017 and the youngest driver in F1 history to claim pole.

Alongside his 325 career points, it doesn’t seem on paper all that bad for Lance. Heck, there would be a queue of former F1 stars who would bite your hand off for his career.

The only issue is, that doesn’t tell the whole story.

Aston Martin need to cut family ties

When Lance’s father, Lawrence Stroll, led the consortium that bought Force India in 2018, the young Canadian got one hell of a Christmas present.

Lots of kids would dream of remote control cars under the tree, but Lance got to drive a very fast one for as long as he (or his dad) wanted - and be paid for the privilege.

Of course Stroll shouldn't be punished for being born into wealth, but it doesn't mean he should be rewarded either. F1 is - or should be - a meritocracy.

Lawrence Stroll, Aston Martin owner and Lance's dad

Sadly though, he just isn’t good enough to drive a car now masterminded by Adrian Newey. None of us really know how 2026 is going to (which is why this season could be the most exciting in a long time) - but boy if you’re going to give someone a chance to drive a Newey car don’t let it be Lance Stroll.

The man with the most Q1 exits of all time, some questionable conduct off the track, and who only managed to outscore one non-Alpine driver – rookie Gabriel Bortoleto – during the 2025 season.

He sits next to two-time champion Fernando Alonso in a lineup that seems like such a wasted opportunity for 2026.

This is no slight on Alonso for what it's worth. Who better to give you feedback on a car than the no-nonsense Spaniard that has quite literally seen it all and done it all before. But at 44, he is not a long-term option for Aston Martin.

So with one driver who has a seat because of his dad, and another who is getting closer to retiring with each race weekend, it begs the question as to what Adrian Newey saw in Aston Martin?

He probably has a few million reasons of course but even if he comes close to designing a rocketship a la the RB19 - why would he want to give the keys to Lance Stroll?

If Aston Martin want to be taken seriously as a ‘big team’ - some tough calls need to be made, such as a father firing his son. Truthfully though this isn’t a tough call.

If there’s a sniff of a whisker that Max Verstappen might be available in 2027, Stroll should be dropped without a moment’s notice.

If there’s a sniff of a whisker that almost any other driver is available, Aston Martin should think about it a bit - and then drop Stroll.

F1 is the pinnacle of motorsport, only 22 drivers get to compete on the grid each season - don’t let one of those slots be filled just because someone has a rich dad.

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Aston Martin Lance Stroll