Lawrence Stroll: Lance victim of 'bad luck' in challenging season

Aston Martin Executive Chairman Lawrence Stroll believes that his son Lance Stroll has been the victim of "bad luck" during a challenging 2023 Formula 1 season.

The Canadian has yet to score a point since the summer break, having suffered a retirement in Japan due to a rear wing failure and withdrawal at Singapore following his heavy crash during qualifying which wrote off his chassis.

The bulk of the 230 points scored by Aston Martin so far this season have been scored by Fernando Alonso, with Stroll contributing just 47 points.

He started the year on the back foot after sustaining a wrist injury during pre-season, leading to him missing pre-season testing in Bahrain.

The comeback was visibly rushed for Stroll, who was having to take his hands off the steering wheel during the opening race to alleviate some of the pain and admitted his "wrists were on fire" as he finished sixth in the Grand Prix itself.

Further questions were asked over the viability of his seat on the grid going forward, following a spat with his trainer Henry Howe when he suffered an early exit from qualifying at Qatar which prompted an FIA investigation over violent conduct.

Stroll: Half of his races have nothing to do with ability

Despite his struggles, Stroll is on course to finishing in his highest position in the Drivers' Championship of his F1 career this year, currently sitting in 10th place, one point ahead of Pierre Gasly and two ahead of Esteban Ocon.

He also has the safety net of being part of a team that is owned and run by his father Lawrence, who believes his son has been hindered by some of bad luck that has struck him throughout the year which has prevented him from reaching his maximum abilities.

"Lance started the year on the back foot with two broken wrists for the first half-dozen races, which was very challenging, but really did a heroic job - and he's had an unfortunate amount of bad luck," Stroll told Sky Sports.

"He's had nine retirements due to engine failures, or a rear-wing fail [at the Japanese Grand Prix].

"Half of the races it hasn't been anything to do with his own abilities, he has just had a lot of bad luck, sadly."