Lance Stroll finds criticism of tough start 'funny'
ByAutoSport
Updated 24/05/2017 at 16:46 GMT
Williams driver Lance Stroll finds the criticism he has received during a difficult start to his rookie Formula 1 season "funny".
Lance Stroll of Canada and Williams during the Spanish Formula One Grand Prix at Circuit de Catalunya on May 14, 2017 in Montmelo, Spain.
Image credit: Getty Images
The 18-year-old has failed to score a point in the first five races of the 2017 campaign, retiring in the first three events before finishing 11th in Russia and 16th in Spain.
His team-mate Felipe Massa has scored points three times and sits ninth in the table with 18 points to his name.
Stroll had a first-lap collision with Sergio Perez in China after making it through the final part of qualifying, clashed with Carlos Sainz Jr in Bahrain and had a first-lap spin in Russia.
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Lance Stroll of Canada driving the (18) Williams Martini Racing Williams FW40 Mercedes during final practice for the Formula One Grand Prix of Russia on April 29, 2017 in Sochi, Russia.
Image credit: Getty Images
In Spain, he finished more than 11.5 seconds behind Massa despite making one fewer pitstops and having been more than 50s ahead of him on lap two after the Brazilian was involved in a first-lap incident.
"Obviously I come from a background that when I win, people try and put me down, and when I lose, people try and put me down," Stroll said.
"I accept that and I actually find it kind of funny. But whatever, that's out of my control, I'm focused on what I'm doing.
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Lance Stroll and Felipe Massa (Williams)
Image credit: Getty Images
"I'm enjoying my time in F1, I'm enjoying the experience, I'm here competing at 18 years old and it's very special. I'm just taking it race by race."
Stroll came into F1 as the reigning Europea Formula 3 champion, and also won the 2014 Italian Formula 4 title.
He said there was "obviously pressure" in F1 but "nothing more than in the past".
"I won my championships to get here," he said. "I'm here and it's my first five races, and it's been a bit tricky.
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Lance Stroll of Canada driving the (18) Williams Martini Racing Williams FW40 Mercedes on track during the Spanish Formula One Grand Prix at Circuit de Catalunya on May 14, 2017 in Montmelo, Spain.
Image credit: Getty Images
"It doesn't just change everything. There's still a long season ahead of me. There's been opportunity for points. In certain races we had bad luck, in Russia I made a mistake on lap one, and there were definitely points there."
Stroll arrives in Monaco with experience of the Pau and Macau street circuits from F3.
He said his expectations were "neutral" for his Monte Carlo debut, for which he has asked Massa for advice.
"I don't want to come into it negatively, thinking that I'm going to struggle," he said. "I'm coming into it thinking it's new, it's challenging, it's going to take time. If I get surprised with my performance then great, if not, we will work from there."
Williams technical boss Paddy Lowe says Stroll has faced "enormous pressure" from external sources.
"He's a driver with a lot of expectation around him, not just from people close to him, but even more from across the paddock," said Lowe. "There's a lot of spotlight on how he got here, and does he really deserve the drive, and all of those things."
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