Lance Stroll now holds the record for the most Q1 eliminations in Formula 1. But rather than shy away from the stat, he responded with a jab — aimed squarely at McLaren’s drivers.
Q1 elimination number 75… and counting
The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix didn’t bring good news for Lance Stroll. Knocked out in Q1 once again, he now becomes the driver with the most early exits in qualifying since 2006: 75 in total, passing Kevin Magnussen.
It’s the third time this season he’s failed to progress past Q1, and Aston Martin continues to struggle with a lack of raw pace — a stark contrast to the start of their 2023 campaign.
“Put Norris and Piastri in a Sauber for 10 years…”
Asked about the record, Stroll made light of it with a quick-witted answer. He pointed out that if drivers like Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri had spent years in a slow car, they’d have just as many Q1 knockouts.
In short, don’t blame the driver, blame the machine. It’s a view not uncommon among mid-grid veterans, who often highlight how stats fail to account for the performance delta between teams.
Performance slump for Aston Martin
Stroll’s point wasn’t without merit. He explained that P16 in Saudi Arabia was actually his best session of the weekend, considering the car had been sitting near the bottom in every practice.
And the numbers back it up: in 2024, he set a 1’28.2 and reached Q2. In 2025, a 1’28.6 barely gets him to P16. The bar has risen — and Aston Martin hasn’t kept up.
Reality check, but no panic
Stroll summed up the situation pragmatically. Fast cars breeze through Q1 while saving tyres. Slower cars must push hard from the start, often unsuccessfully. That’s just how F1 works.
The problem is, Aston Martin was meant to be beyond that stage. Instead, the team is slipping backward, and Stroll’s qualifying record is only the latest symptom of a larger performance plateau.