On January 31, at the Bell Centre, Lance Stroll appeared on the giant screen during a stoppage in play. Smiling, he waved to the crowd. And this one, rather than applauding him, answered him with… an almost total indifference.
We can assume that the welcome would have been warmer for Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, Félix Auger-Aliassime or Justine Dufour-Lapointe, for example. So many athletes who enjoy a strong reputation among the Quebec public.
Stroll, however, belongs to the world’s motorsport elite. Only 20 drivers own a steering wheel in Formula 1. It is therefore singular that a native of Montreal expressing himself very well in French arouses so little enthusiasm in a province with a long tradition of F1. Especially when you know that the last Quebecer to have reached this level, Jacques Villeneuve, was a superstar a quarter of a century ago.
When La Presse submitted this observation to François Dumontier, the Canadian Grand Prix promoter did not dismiss it. Although he will be racing this weekend in his home town and the Aston Martin team is having a good start to the season, Stroll is far from the main face of the event.
“At the very start of his career, he didn’t really know how to react with the public and the media,” Dumontier said in a short interview last Wednesday. I also think that the arrival of Fernando Alonso will help him. »
As if to prove him right, Stroll appeared completely at ease during his 20-minute meeting with media representatives on Thursday at the Grand Prix site. He even seemed more relaxed during the French segment, despite it not being his first language. He’s not a monster of interpersonal skills, but you have to start somewhere…
His media presence, however, is somewhat a reflection of the relationship he shares with the public. At the request of La Presse, the firm Influence Communication has listed the mentions of Stroll in the media here, French and English, over the past 24 months. By comparing him to a list of some 150 other athletes from Quebec, Canada or playing in the province (for example the players of the Montreal Canadiens), he is certainly positioned in the upper third, but far from the head.
In 2021-2022, for example, he took 27th position in a list dominated by CH players. Tennis player Félix Auger-Aliassime still got almost double the mentions. In 2022-2023, he climbs to 18th level, but remains behind Denis Shapovalov and Bianca Andreescu, who are not Quebecers. During the same period, he received attention comparable to that received by Carey Price… who has not played for two years.
During a casual conversation on Thursday, Pierre Houde, voice of F1 at RDS, noted that the interest of motor racing fans had changed over the years. Those he met at the end of the 1990s only had it for Jacques Villeneuve, while those of today talk to him more about the championship and its intrigues.
François Dumontier also wonders if the image of the daddy’s boy that sticks to his skin does not harm his popularity. Billionaire Lawrence Stroll is, in fact, the owner of the stable that employs Lance.
The aura of the father, however, is never far away. On Thursday, Stroll was asked to comment on two statements from his father. A first arguing that the young man can reach the level of performance of Fernando Alonso this season; a second expressing the wish that the two Aston Martin drivers get on the podium in Montreal.
“Are you tired of people talking to you about your father?” “, he was asked jokingly. “That’s part of the fun” of the exercise, he replied with a smile.
On several occasions, the 24-year-old runner repeated that he was doing his thing. Often after the evocation of the influence of Alonso, in fact. The friendship and collaborative relationship that developed between the two was a constant topic of conversation on Thursday.
Does he look forward to being considered for what he himself can bring, without mentioning his father or his teammate? “I don’t dwell on it too much,” he said. I do what I know how to do. That day will come, I imagine. »
Besides, Stroll got all sorts of compliments. In particular his team manager Mike Krack, who praised his fighting spirit.
The Montrealer started the season just days after suffering a serious cycling accident. Wrist injuries required surgery. He was thus deprived of multiple pre-season test sessions, which did not prevent him from finishing sixth in Bahrain, as a curtain raiser. A feat “that hasn’t been noticed enough,” argued Mr. Krack.
Stroll should not be viewed as a finished product, he insists, even though he is in his seventh campaign. “Each runner has their own progression curve and, generally, no one is a champion in their first year, noted the engineer. F1 is an unfair environment where drivers are categorized quickly. There are several factors to consider. I don’t believe Lance drove a performance car for long [before this year]. »
He, too, got excited about the relationship Stroll and Alonso share. This cohesion rubs off on the whole team. “We’re lucky they get along so well. »
Alonso, during an FIA press briefing, assured that his young team-mate has what it takes to move up the ladder. “When you start the year with broken wrists, you know it takes passion to do what you do,” the 41-year-old veteran said.
And to conclude: “With his commitment and his motivation, and with what the team is building, it is a matter of time before success comes. »
Will he come to Montreal this Sunday? If so, Father Stroll’s prophecy will come true, which would not help dissociate his name from that of his son.
On this one, we imagine all the same that Lance would not complain too much.
