Adrian Newey Praises Lance Stroll’s Underrated Talent

Adrian Newey has offered strong support for Lance Stroll, describing the Aston Martin driver as “much better than people give him credit for” ahead of the Monaco Grand Prix. Newey, who took on the new role of managing technical partner at Aston Martin this year, saw Stroll’s struggles during the weekend but quickly defended the Canadian.

Stroll, now 26, has been with several Formula 1 teams since his 2017 debut and has often faced criticism for his performances. This weekend in Monaco, he was forced to retire from Free Practice 1 after contact with Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari led to a broken rear wishbone, floor damage, and a gearbox change. For more details on Formula 1 technical regulations, visit the FIA’s official website.

With a one-place grid penalty added, Stroll will start 19th, matching his qualifying spot, after Oliver Bearman was handed a separate penalty. Aston Martin team boss Andy Cowell explained the accident as a communication problem on the radio.

“Our radio call wasn’t clear enough, is the bottom line,” Cowell said. The team took responsibility for Stroll missing practice laps, which affected his preparation.

Despite these recent setbacks, Newey believes that Stroll’s reputation outside the team is not deserved. He reminded reporters that while Stroll has been matched against top drivers like Sergio Perez, Nico Hulkenberg, Sebastian Vettel, and Fernando Alonso, he has still “been right there” when it comes to speed and performance.

Stroll’s F1 career includes podiums in Azerbaijan, Italy, and Turkey, as well as achieving pole position at the 2020 Turkish Grand Prix under difficult conditions. He currently partners with double world champion Fernando Alonso at Aston Martin, and their line-up is expected to stay the same for next season. Newey has expressed admiration for Alonso, describing him as “such a cool character,” reflecting their mutual respect and rivalry on track — more on Alonso’s recent performances can be found here.

Newey highlighted Stroll’s ability to compete with experienced, championship-winning teammates over the years, something he says is often overlooked by critics and fans. While Newey is new to the Aston Martin setup, he is already working on projects for future seasons, including the 2026 car under new technical regulations. For an in-depth look at Formula 1’s future regulations, check out Motorsport.com’s analysis.

He has brought a wealth of experience to the team, having designed championship-winning cars at Williams, McLaren, and Red Bull. Newey has said before that he enjoys working with strong drivers, mentioning both Lewis Hamilton and Alonso as top talents he wanted to collaborate with.

At Aston Martin, he now has the chance to work with Alonso, whom he called “such a cool character,” and says he always respected their rivalry on track. Stroll’s results in 2025 have been mixed, with a best finish of 7th place prior to Monaco, and he sits outside the top 10 in the standings as of the Grand Prix weekend.

Team performance has been a challenge, with Aston Martin holding a midfield position in the Constructors’ Championship. However, Newey believes that as the team finds more speed and reliability, both drivers—especially Stroll—will have more chances to show their skill. For historical context on Constructors’ Championships, refer to Formula 1’s official records.

The Monaco Grand Prix weekend continues with Stroll facing a challenging race starting from the back rows, but his team and technical leadership remain confident in his abilities. Details on the Grand Prix weekend strategy can be found in coverage of the Monaco GP weekend. Adrian Newey’s public praise sets a positive tone for Stroll as the season moves forward, underlining the belief within Aston Martin that he is a crucial part of their plans.

Fans will be watching closely to see how Stroll responds in the coming rounds and whether Newey’s faith pays off in improved results. For more insights into driver performance analytics, visit RaceFans.

Daniel Miller

Daniel Miller reports on Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends with race-day analysis, team-radio highlights, and point-standings updates. He explains power-unit upgrades, aerodynamic developments, and driver rivalries in straightforward, SEO-friendly language for a global F1 audience.