Lance Stroll, driving car #18 for Aston Martin in 2026, is a Canadian Formula 1 driver entering his tenth season in the sport, with 3 podium finishes, 1 pole position, and over 170 race starts through the end of 2025. Born in Montreal on October 29, 1998, Stroll became the youngest front-row starter in F1 history at the 2017 Italian Grand Prix and scored a podium on the streets of Baku in his rookie year.
Stroll’s career has been intertwined with his father Lawrence Stroll’s ownership of the team, first as Racing Point and then rebranded as Aston Martin. He scored podiums at Baku 2017, Monza 2020, and Bahrain 2020, and took a stunning pole position in wet conditions at the 2020 Turkish Grand Prix. His wet-weather performances reveal a driver with genuine pace when conditions are challenging.
For 2026, Stroll partners Fernando Alonso at Aston Martin in a team that has invested heavily in a new factory, wind tunnel, and technical infrastructure. The new regulations offer Stroll a fresh opportunity to demonstrate his talent alongside one of the greatest drivers in F1 history. His ability to deliver in wet and mixed conditions remains a genuine strength.
Stroll is at his best when conditions deviate from the norm. First-lap aggression, rain-affected sessions, and unconventional strategy windows play to his strengths. His technical feedback has improved with experience, and a decade of F1 knowledge makes him a valuable contributor to car development.
Canadian fans have their showpiece at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal for the Canadian Grand Prix at Round 5 in late May, with a 15:00 EDT start and sprint race on Saturday at 12:00 EDT. The Eastern timezone provides manageable viewing for European races, with afternoon starts translating to morning sessions. Check Canada time for full timezone details.
Stroll’s longevity in F1, combined with Aston Martin’s increasing investment, means the 2026 season is another opportunity to prove that his results can match the team’s rising ambitions under the new technical regulations.