Stroll: I’m a more complete driver but unable to show it

Lance Stroll says he is determined to show how much he has improved as a driver at the rebranded Racing Point Formula 1 team during the upcoming 2019 season.

The Canadian scored a podium in his rookie F1 season but endured a torrid sophomore campaign at Williams, managing just six points in 2018 as the British squad fell to the bottom of the constructors’ championship with its underperforming FW41.

For 2019, Stroll switches to join the former Force India team his father saved from administration last year to partner Sergio Perez. The 20-year-old hopes to finally be in a position to demonstrate his abilities by making the step up to Racing Point.

“I do believe that I’m a more complete driver than I was one year ago,” Stroll said.

“I just haven’t been able to demonstrate that due to the package, which is the nature of the sport. Some years it goes like that and you have to accept that as a driver.

“I don’t think it’s really fair to compare the [past] two [seasons]. Judge the year in general, it’s been a firefighting season.

“We picked up very few points but the few times that I picked up points were big highlights because we beat quicker cars around us.

“I scraped into Q2 and Q3 in Monza - they’ve really been big achievements because the performance has been really poor.”

Stroll described his 2018 as more of a “participation” season with “more lows than highs" but insisted he is ready to “turn the page” this year with his new team. 

“I don’t think it comes down to one thing in particular, I think it’s a combination of things,” Stroll replied when asked what had been the most valuable lesson he had learned at Williams.

“I would say the main thing is just experience, I’ve learnt so much with another season of F1 under my belt.

“Expanding my knowledge of tyres, qualifying and racing, just with seat time you learn so much and that’s far from done.

“I still believe I’m far from reaching my full potential so every year I will just keep chipping away at it. I’ll work on my weaknesses and build on my strengths.”