Ex-Formula 1 driver Ralf Schumacher laid into Lance Stroll for his post-race radio outburst about Aston Martin’s 2025 car following the British Grand Prix.
Stroll, who was briefly in contention for a fourth career podium at Silverstone, was visibly irate as he crossed the chequered flag in seventh place.
“I mean it’s the worst piece of sh*t I’ve ever driven to be honest,” said Stroll to his race engineer, Gary Gannon, on the post-race team radio.
The AMR25 struggled with tyre degradation throughout the 52-lap wet-dry thriller. The Canadian driver first lost his podium place to Nico Hulkenberg owing to his withering Intermediate tyres. The last phase of the race, on slicks, saw Stroll concede further places, and a last-lap move by Pierre Gasly demoted him to seventh.
Former F1 driver Schumacher, however, was left unimpressed by Stroll’s public berating of the team’s efforts.
The ex-Williams driver questioned the Canadian’s “manners” and labelled his outburst as “an absolute no-go”.
“We are often criticised for being too harsh on him [Stroll], and maybe we are sometimes,” he told Sky Deutschland.
“I have to say, this statement is very disappointing, and quite honestly, it’s a question of manners. You have to imagine the external impact.
“The mechanics who work there day in, day out so that the two can race – and then the boss’s son comes along and says: ‘Wonderful, and with such a crappy car.’ I have to say, that’s completely unacceptable, that’s an absolute no-go.”
Schumacher urges Stroll to apologise
Stroll has come under scrutiny for his public display of emotions in the past. At the 2023 Qatar GP, Stroll was seen pushing trainer Henry Howe after failing to make it out of Q1.
Schumacher believes that such incidents, where Stroll lets his emotions get the better of him, are only making matters worse for his public image among fans.
He also urged the 26-year-old to promptly accept his fault and apologise to the entire team.
“I would hope that at the next race he goes and apologises. It’s just a shame, unspeakable, and it indicates a poor upbringing,” Schumacher explained.
“I don’t know what movie he thinks he is in, but such statements diminish his own results. These are important points, after all. One mustn’t forget: These are also important bonuses for the mechanics and the like.”
“And when someone then ruins it like that – quite honestly, you have to say: Grade F, dear Lance – and apologise to the team.”
READ MORE – Lance Stroll slams ‘sad’ F1 2026 regulations that drivers won’t criticise for ‘political reasons’
Discussion about this post