Military convoy for Lance Stroll – the wildest way any F1 driver has ever returned to the garage. Lance Stroll recounts a surreal moment at the Las Vegas Grand Prix.

Lance Stroll escorted by military personnel back to the garage: “At least I didn’t have to spend the night there”

At the Las Vegas Grand Prix, Lance Stroll experienced yet another race that was far from memorable. This time, however, the Canadian was not at fault. In the city that never sleeps, Stroll found himself the victim of a rear-end collision that immediately took him out of contention. He remained stranded at the side of the track for a long time, stopped in an escape road. To return to the garage he requested assistance, and ended up being escorted by military personnel stationed at the venue — a surreal scene by any standard.

Stroll out instantly after contact with Bortoleto

Stroll has his limits, but he generally manages well in wet conditions. The start of qualifying had been promising, although the race itself was dry — conditions in which he likely would have struggled, just like his Aston Martin teammate Fernando Alonso. But we will never know for sure. His race ended almost immediately when he collided with Gabriel Bortoleto. For the second consecutive event, the pair made contact on the opening lap, after the previous clash in Brazil. This time the damage was too severe to continue, and Gabriel Bortoleto will serve a penalty in Qatar as a result.

“There was some kind of military group that escorted me back to the garage”

The Las Vegas circuit is unusual — a street track where returning to the pits is not always easy. Stroll may not have realized that getting back is extremely complicated once the track is live. The race lasted 50 laps, and he spent almost all of them as a spectator at the side of the circuit, trying to figure out how to return to his garage, seeking warmth and shelter. Eventually he succeeded. The Canadian climbed into one of the golf-cart-style vehicles used around the venue, which brought him back to the team, but behind him was a group of military personnel escorting him for safety.

The story sounds unbelievable, but Stroll himself confirmed every detail: “I was on the other side of the circuit for the last 40 or 50 laps. You can’t get back here because all the roads are closed. I was trying to find a way to return. Eventually I got on a golf cart and there was some kind of military group that escorted me back to the garage. It took a while — about 40 laps — but in the end I managed to get back to the paddock. At least I didn’t have to spend the night there.”

Once he reached the interview pen, Stroll also commented on the incident with Bortoleto, offering him full forgiveness: “Gabi didn’t do it on purpose. Unfortunately, when it’s cold, it can happen that the car locks up and you lose control. He’s a good guy, he didn’t mean to do it, and a mistake can happen to anyone.”