No pink exists within the green hue.
Hell, Let's Dive Right In:
Aston Martin's team spirit, despite the brutal beating they've taken this season, remains undeterred. Coming off nine races in 2025, they're barely holding onto second-to-last place in the constructor standings. The car's issues are so abundant that it's no secret they're focusing primarily on the 2026 season. As for the grim picture, there's a glimmer. Lance Stroll, their top gun, is back from the doctor's table and ready to rumble.
The news about Stroll's return was cloaked in secrecy for days, but it's out now. After a fracture from 2023 and some tough races, Stroll required wrist surgery that initially seemed to threaten his appearance at the Montreal Grand Prix. However, against all odds, Stroll will race in Montreal.
A few weeks back, before the Barcelona race, the team announced Stroll's surgery. The mystery surrounding his participation in Montreal lasted for days until, on Wednesday, it was announced that he would be racing in Montreal.
Thursday was a mixed day for Lance Stroll. During an FIA press conference, his responses to questions about his health were terse and gruff, citing the sanctity of his private life. But when speaking to the French press later that day, he addressed the delay in surgery, blaming the three consecutive races at Imola, Monaco, and Barcelona for the postponement. The sharp corners proved too much for his wrist, making Barcelona the breaking point. That's where he withdrew from the competition.
The gist? The bone wasn't broken, so it was simply a matter of fixing what bothered him. A relatively straightforward [procedure].
In preparation for his return, Stroll has been putting his paws through their paces at Silverstone in Aston Martin's headquarters, testing his wrist in a racing simulator. The results have given him hope. By the end of the weekend, we'll know if it holds up on the track as well.
Running on Empty (2025 Season)
That's the only good news for now. Aston Martin is in a tight spot. After finishing the last four seasons in seventh, fifth, seventh, and fifth place, they're now ninth, climbing out of the bottom spot only to sit among the dregs.
While Stroll scored a sixth place in the rain at the Australian Grand Prix and displayed some spark, the same can't be said for Fernando Alonso. The Spanish ace scored his two points of the season in Barcelona, finishing nininth.
When asked to explain the poor performance, Alonso gracefully admitted that the car is a "challenge" for both him and his teammate. He later added that it's "difficult" to watch rivals tip-toe onto podiums while they're barely making it through qualifying sessions.
"We stand together, maintain focus, and try not to lose motivation," he said.
Clearly, concentration is almost entirely focused on next season. In the morning, team principal Andy Cowell mentioned the year 2026 seven times in ten minutes. Next year, a new set of regulations will impose revolutionary technological changes on all the teams on the grid. In the back, there's a dream of a more balanced world where no team monopolizes the top spot.
Finding the balance in this context is no joke. With drivers enduring miserable race after race in 2025, they're trying to strike a delicate balance between seeking immediate improvements without cannibalizing resources intended for future innovations.
"Every time I discuss the current car with Fernando, he gives me a peculiar look and asks if we're not compromising next year," Cowell joked. "I have to assure him."
Alonso is in the realist camp, stating his team must be minimally competitive by the end of the season, even if they know they're a far cry from the top of the standings. His team's performance in 2026 will impact his decision about continuing his career, he's warned.
Stroll, however, takes a more nuanced approach. There are rare moments of joy, like the sixth place in Australia and a good performance in the Miami sprint... "When speed isn't there, you grab what opportunities come your way and make the best of it," he said.
Let's face it, nobody is happy with the state of things. "But that's Formula 1, you can't mope about past errors, just stay focused on the future."
And will this future bring points for Aston Martin this weekend in Montreal?
"I hope it does, but it might be a tougher nut to crack than last year," he said cautiously.
Optimistic, Lance Stroll? Hell yes. Naive? Not at all.
- Besides his recovery, Aston Martin's French teammates and competitors in European leagues might find interest in Lance Stroll's return to football-like competition on the Formula 1 track, as he aims to score points for his team in Montreal.
- In light of the team's lackluster performance this season, Lance Stroll's French teammate, Fernando Alonso, is hoping that the arrival of the European football season will serve as an inspiration for improvements in their sports cars, ensuring a more competitive showing in the upcoming European leagues.
