Lance Stroll analyzed Aston Martin’s current situation in the preseason tests and acknowledged that the team is “four and a half seconds” off the front-running pace. The Canadian explained that the deficit is due to several factors, including the engine.
Aston Martin is going through a difficult start in the Formula 1 preseason tests in Bahrain, and Lance Stroll was clear in describing the team’s outlook after the first days of running under challenging conditions.
The Canadian driver admitted that the British squad is far from the level shown by the most competitive teams at this early stage of preparation. “Right now it looks like we’re four seconds off the team at the front, four and a half,” Stroll said, in one of the most straightforward statements of the last few days.
His words reflect the magnitude of the gap, even in a context where testing is often shaped by different fuel strategies, tire compounds, and work programs. However, the driver himself avoided downplaying the situation and stressed that the distance is significant for a team with high expectations.
“It’s impossible to know what fuel loads everyone else is running, but we need to find four seconds of performance,” he added, making it clear that the team still has a major step to take before the season begins and the competitive picture becomes fully defined.
In this new cycle, Aston Martin has begun working with Honda as its engine supplier, a change that is part of an ambitious long-term project aimed at future success. In that context, Stroll explained that the current issues are not limited to a single aspect of the car or a specific area of development.
“It’s a combination of things. Engine, balance, grip. It’s not just one thing,” he said, pointing out that the deficit is being felt in several areas of the car and that the work ahead is extensive for engineers and drivers alike.
The current Formula 1 is defined by very small margins between teams, where every tenth can make a difference on the grid. That is why a gap of several seconds represents a significant challenge for any outfit aiming to fight at the front and consistently score strong results.
Stroll insisted that the team is still gathering information and that testing is part of the process of identifying flaws and fine-tuning performance. Even so, his assessment was blunt and raised the first signs of concern about the car’s true level compared to its rivals.
Aston Martin will continue using the remaining test days to find solutions and improve its competitiveness ahead of the first race of the calendar. For now, the initial conclusions show a demanding scenario that requires quick progress.
The Canadian’s remarks were the clearest reference to the team’s current situation in Bahrain. And the message was straightforward: Aston Martin is far off the front-running pace and needs to improve quickly to close the gap.