Schumacher a hero of mine - Stroll

Lance Stroll says legendary Ferrari driver Michael Schumacher was a “hero of his” when he was a young man going to watch Formula 1 races at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Canada, where the next grand prix race of the 2019 season takes place this weekend.

The Canadian’s father, Lawrence Stroll, took over Racing Point, then known as Force India, last year and brought over his son from Williams.

The duo are lifelong racing fans, and ahead of Stroll’s home GP, he has mentioned Schumacher as one driver who inspired him when he was just a spectator.

"Nothing beats your home race," Stroll admitted.

"I was born in Montreal and grew up there so it's always a special week.

"When I was a kid, the Canadian Grand Prix was always the race I went to with my dad. I remember being five or six years old and being there when Michael [Schumacher] was winning. He was a real hero of mine.”

The former Williams driver hasn’t had the best time since moving to Racing Point and is currently 14th in the drivers’ championship, but he is hoping his hometown crowd can catalyse a better result for him on Sunday.

"The F1 race is a big deal for Montreal,” he added.

“ You can feel the excitement and buzz in the city all week, and I really enjoy and feed off the atmosphere. Canadians love F1 and the race has become a tradition for the city.

"The whole weekend feels like a festival and I get huge support from the fans. Seeing the Canadian flags in the grandstands and knowing that the crowd is behind you feels very special."

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