Lance Stroll has faced a difficult start to the 2026 Formula 1 season, completing only four laps during the Barcelona shakedown with his Aston Martin. Former Aston Martin chief strategist Bernie Collins said that the Canadian driver likely felt “a bit unlucky” due to the extremely limited running, as the British team arrived late to the opening test and only got on track toward the end of the fourth day.
Stroll was the first to take the wheel of the new AMR26, but his initial program ended after just four laps. This concluded his track activity, as the car was handed over to Fernando Alonso for the entire final day of testing. Fernando Alonso completed 61 laps, leaving Lance Stroll at a disadvantage ahead of the first of two three-day pre-season tests in Bahrain, scheduled from February 11 to 13.
According to Bernie Collins, Lance Stroll likely experienced a fair degree of frustration at being restricted to so few laps. However, she believes Aston Martin will ensure that both drivers achieve a balanced mileage before the pre-season testing concludes.
Speaking to Sky Sports F1, Bernie Collins said: “I think he’ll feel a bit unlucky; he would have liked to complete more laps with the car. But when they decided who would go out first, it was basically down to chance. Whatever method they used, it was simply a matter of luck.”
She added: “It’s the same as when it rains during a test day. They will probably try to rebalance the laps in the next sessions if possible. That will definitely be Lance’s goal. If the laps can be swapped on the final day in Bahrain, he will gladly accept, so he won’t feel discouraged. At this stage, it’s really about learning the car’s behavior, not necessarily setting performance laps.”
The slow start for Aston Martin highlights the immense challenge of the 2026 regulations. By focusing on fundamental car behavior rather than outright pace, Stroll and the team can still recover the lost ground, provided the upcoming Bahrain sessions go off without a hitch. For a driver often under the microscope, staying composed and maximizing every remaining minute of track time will be essential to ensure he doesn’t enter the first Grand Prix of the season on the back foot.
Leave a Reply