Lance Stroll was not surprised by Max Verstappen’s decision to stay with Red Bull Racing until the end of 2030. For the Aston Martin driver, the Dutchman’s continuation in Formula 1 does not contradict the criticisms he made about the current generation cars.
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The Dutchman’s contract extension was announced before the Dutch GP, securing Verstappen at Red Bull until 2030. Even having shown dissatisfaction with the behavior of the current cars, the four-time world champion highlighted that he hopes to find a better situation by the end of the new deal.
Asked about Verstappen’s contract extension, Stroll responded with good humor: “I assume he is making a lot of money, so I’m not surprised,” said the Canadian laughing.
Next, the Aston Martin driver highlighted that he also expects a change in the category: “But, yes, I hope we see good Formula 1 cars return soon,” Stroll continued, making it clear that the issue is not only related to competitiveness.
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According to him, being in a car capable of fighting for the top positions naturally increases drivers’ satisfaction, but there is also a difference in the very feeling of driving the current single-seaters: “We, the twenty-two drivers, are all competitive. We are all here to win. When the car is competitive and you are at the front, you always enjoy it more,” he added.
The Canadian, however, stated that the characteristics of the previous regulations’ cars provided a different experience: “Compared to other regulations, I think the cars used to be more fun to drive. They gave more pleasure, more adrenaline, more grip, and I think many of us miss that feeling in the car,” he concluded.
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