Stroll’s ‘Political’ Influence Could Hinder F1 Rivalry With Sebastian Vettel: Villeneuve

Sebastian Vettel seems to be slowly coming into his own at Aston Martin. The four-time world champion endured a nightmare at Ferrari, that eventually saw Charles Leclerc overshadow him. Now, the German driver is hoping for a fresh start in a brand new team alongside Lance Stroll.

Admittedly, Vettel struggled initially, but now he seems to be able to keep up with the Canadian. In light of this, 1997 Formula one champion Jacques Villeneuve spoke about the four-time world champion. He addressed whether Vettel could defeat Stroll over the span of one season.

Villeneuve said, “I don’t know … Lance knows the car well. He’s been with the team for a long time and it’s his team. Who knows how it is politically there. But Lance is not a bad driver. He took a pole in the rain last year.”

How will Sebastian Vettel and Lance Stroll perform?

It is surprising to see Villeneuve say something positive about Stroll, especially since he has been critical of his compatriot due to his roots as a billionaire’s son. It also did not help that Lance’s father Lawrence owns the Aston Martin Racing team. It could have led many to assume that Stroll only has a seat because his father owns the team.

Despite this, the young Canadian has come into his own and put in respectable performances. Meanwhile, Sebastian Vettel will feel highly confident and motivated after his excellent fifth place at Monaco. While he may not expect a repeat at Azerbaijan this weekend, it is good to dream.

Whatever the case, the Aston Martin team have been improving steadily at each race. With a driver of Stroll’s talent and Vettel’s experience, it seems like a match made in heaven. On the other end of the scale, their rivals will not sit idle and will also be hard at work with their own respective drivers.

READ MORE: “Unless You’re Scared of Dying” – Villeneuve Explains Why Sebastian Vettel Was Right to Continue His F1 Career