Lance Stroll asks for prayers in Honda 'magic' search

Lance Stroll has asked the media to "pray with" him for Honda to "find some magic" ahead of its home grand prix at Suzuka.

The Aston Martin driver endured another torrid weekend at the Chinese Grand Prix. Although Stroll and Fernando Alonso finished the Sprint race at the Shanghai International Circuit, neither car saw the chequered flag on Sunday, as was the case the week previously in the season-opening Australian GP.

Stroll retired after nine laps with battery-related issues, whilst Alonso pulled out after 32 laps due to numbness in his hands and feet caused by vibrations through the car stemming from the Honda battery.

Although the Japanese manufacturer applied what it described as "countermeasures", albeit without going into any detail as to what that entailed, for both races, the retirements in China have forced it back to the drawing board ahead of its home race next weekend.

The gap between the Chinese and Japanese races has at least afforded Honda a window of opportunity to find a fix. Suggested to Stroll that the race would likely be another tough one, he replied: "Unless they [Honda] can find some magic in the next 10 days, I don't know."

With a smile, Stroll added: "Pray! Pray with me."

'I believe', says Stroll

From a driver's perspective, Stroll and Alonso have been nothing more than passengers in a nightmare journey so far this season for Aston Martin and Honda.

There has been little they can influence as they wait for the power unit issues to be resolved, before the team can finally attack and deliver performance, with the Canadian confident that progress will then be made.

"It's not a great time for the team," said Stroll. "Everyone's frustrated with where we are. It's not how we want to go racing and fight for these positions.

"I have no doubt there's a lot of potential. We have a great facility; we have very talented people inside the team, and Honda has won four out of the last five world championships.

"Right now, it's not ideal, but we will keep pushing forward. I have a lot of belief in the whole team, the whole operation."