Former Formula 1 driver and Sky Sports Germany presenter Ralf Schumacher has branded Lance Stroll’s criticism of the Aston Martin AMR25 as “unacceptable.”
The Canadian driver, who was running in third at one stage, finished the British Grand Prix in seventh. But despite securing six points for the Silverstone outfit, he fumed over the team radio after the chequered flag. “It’s the worst piece of s**t I’ve ever driven in my life, to be honest. But it’s okay. Seventh,” he said to his race engineer Gary Gannon.
Schumacher argued that Stroll should apologise to the team.
“We are often criticised for being too harsh on him, and maybe we are sometimes,” the former driver explained on the Sky Deutschland Backstage Pitlane podcast. “But you could see: In these [Silverstone] conditions, you have to be able to drive a car. And he can, fundamentally. How good, how bad – that’s a bit difficult to say. Alongside Fernando Alonso, who may be of a certain age but is still doing a good job. So, big compliments to the whole team.
“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.
“I would hope that at the next race he goes and apologises. It’s just a shame, unspeakable, and it indicates a poor upbringing. 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.”
When it came to Stroll speaking to the media following the race, he confirmed that the “result was good” but stated that tyre degradation had been an issue for the team.
Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing, Pirelli test Silverstone
Photo by: Pirelli
“The Sauber had a lot more grip, so they had a much, much faster car,” he compared. “I think with the degradation we have, we couldn’t have got a better result. Honestly, I was barely able to stay on the track at the end with the soft tyre because it was just completely grained.
“And also the intermediate tyre just losing 20 seconds of race time compared to the Sauber at one point in the race, just huge degradation. With that kind of deg it’s going to be hard to fight, but it’s a good result, good strategy calls. So that was good.”
After 12 races of the 2025 season, Aston Martin sits eighth in the constructors’ standings with 36 points, tied with Racing Bulls in seventh.
In this article
Be the first to know and subscribe for real-time news email updates on these topics
Subscribe to news alerts
