Aside from his second year in Formula 1, when he was paired with a rookie, Lance Stroll has never been his team’s leading points-scorer.
Lance StrollBeat team mate in qualifying8/21Beat team mate in race10/17Races finished19/22Laps spent ahead of team mate623/1144Qualifying margin+0.21sPoints34
But he has usually been a dependable finisher who would occasionally grab an eye-catching result. Like the podium finish in his eighth F1 start or pole position at Istanbul last year: Something to vindicate his doubters and vex the vocal critics who question whether he would be in F1 at all if his father didn’t own his team.
But despite being in the same (albeit rebranded) team for the third year in a row, Stroll’s 2021 form didn’t run to the usual pattern. Yes, he picked up nine points finishes, but all of the team’s noteworthy results were taken by Sebastian Vettel.
Wasn’t that to be expected, given Vettel’s experience and exceptional track record? Perhaps, but keep in mind…