Lance Stroll

Early life

Lance Stroll was born on October 29, 1998, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The son of billionaire businessman Lawrence Stroll, Lance’s passion for racing sparked early when he first drove a go-kart at the age of five. Stroll grew up in a privileged environment and was immersed in motorsports from a young age, with his father’s investment in the industry providing the steppingstone into the world of competitive racing.

His mother was Claire-Anne Callens, a Belgian fashion designer. He has an elder sister, Chloe. Following his parents’ divorce, his father Lawrence married Raquel Diniz. Stroll, who is of Russian Jewish heritage on his father’s side, competes under the Canadian flag, though he holds dual Canadian and Belgian citizenship. He’s proficient in multiple languages, including English, French, Flemish, and Italian.

Career

Lance Stroll began his career in karting, making his professional debut in 2008. He quickly ascended the ranks, catching the attention of the Ferrari Driver Academy, which he joined in 2010. Stroll continued his successful stint in single-seaters, winning the 2014 Italian F4 Championship and the 2016 European Formula 3 Championship.

Lance Stroll, hailing from Geneva, Canada, embarked on his motorsport journey by karting at the tender age of 10. His first year in karting, 2008, was marked by a plethora of wins in races and championships across Canada and North America, earning him the Quebec Federation of Automobile Sport’s Rookie of the Year award. He also received the Driver of the Year award in 2009. In 2010, he was inducted into the prestigious Ferrari Driver Academy.

Entering the world of Formula 4, Stroll made his initial appearance in car racing during the 2014 Florida Winter Series, an unofficial series hosted by the Ferrari Driver Academy. He competed against future Formula One peers like Nicholas Latifi and Max Verstappen, securing two podium finishes and a pole position at Homestead–Miami Speedway.

Stroll’s official debut in competitive car racing took place in the 2014 Italian F4 Championship, where he drove for Prema Powerteam. Even though an injury caused him to miss the final round, Stroll’s season was an undeniable success, as he secured the series championship title with seven victories, thirteen podium finishes, and five pole positions.

In 2015, Lance Stroll kicked off the year by clinching the Toyota Racing series in New Zealand, amassing 10 podium finishes, including four victories, out of 16 races. That same year, he took part in the FIA Formula 3 European Championship as a member of Prema Powerteam, a team his father invested in. He faced off against future F1 drivers like Antonio Giovinazzi, Charles Leclerc, George Russell, and Alexander Albon, scoring a victory at Hockenheimring and achieving six podium finishes overall in the series. He completed the season ranked fifth in the championship. His 2015 season also included his only participation in the non-championship Formula Three Macau Grand Prix, where he secured the 8th position.

On November 11, 2015, it was announced that Stroll would be leaving the Ferrari Driver Academy to take up a test driver role with Williams.

Stroll initiated 2016 with a 5th place finish at the 2016 24 Hours of Daytona, driving for Ford Chip Ganassi Racing in a Ford EcoBoost Prototype. He continued his association with Prema Powerteam for the third year running to participate in his second season of the Formula 3 European Championship. He took home the victory in the inaugural race at Circuit Paul Ricard and went on to triumph in thirteen more races throughout the season, which included a winning streak of the final five races. He captured the championship title with four races still left and concluded the season with a staggering 187-point lead over his closest rival, Maximilian Günther.

Stroll made his Formula One debut in 2017 with Williams Martini Racing, becoming the second-youngest driver in F1 history and the first Canadian since Jacques Villeneuve. His rookie season was marked with a podium finish at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, making him the youngest rookie to finish on the podium.

In 2019, Stroll moved to Racing Point, a team co-owned by his father. Since then, he has continued to demonstrate his talent, scoring points regularly and confirming his status as a reliable and competitive driver in the sport.

In 2023, Lance Stroll continued with Aston Martin, teaming up with Fernando Alonso who replaced the retiring Sebastian Vettel. Unfortunately, Stroll was unable to participate in the pre-season testing at Bahrain International Circuit due to a cycling accident during training. As a result, reserve driver Felipe Drugovich filled in for him. Stroll’s injuries from the accident included a fracture and displacement in his right wrist, fractures in his left wrist and hand, as well as a broken toe. Minor surgery was needed for his right wrist, involving the insertion of metal screws.

Despite his injuries, Stroll returned for the free practice sessions and the race. He acknowledged some lingering pain in his wrists during the second free practice session, necessitating a more relaxed driving style. He remarked that while he was “rather stiff,” he felt comfortable enough in the car. He secured the eighth qualifying position for the race and managed a sixth-place finish despite a first-lap collision with his teammate. In the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Stroll experienced his first mechanical retirement of the season. The Australian Grand Prix saw him finish fourth amid a turbulent race. Later, he finished seventh in Azerbaijan and twelfth in Miami after being eliminated in Q1.

Net Worth

As of 2023, Lance Stroll’s net worth is estimated to be approximately $50 million. This wealth comes primarily from his career as a Formula One driver, sponsorships, and endorsement deals.

Achievement

In his relatively short career, Lance Stroll has amassed several impressive achievements. Notably, he is the youngest rookie to finish a Formula One race on the podium and the second-youngest driver to start a Grand Prix race. In addition, his victories in the Italian F4 Championship and the European Formula 3 Championship underscore his talent and potential in the world of motor racing.