Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll could only partially explain the events that led to his embarrassing retirement from the Formula 1 Sao Paulo Grand Prix at Interlagos.
Treacherous conditions met the F1 field in Brazil last weekend, with Sunday’s Grand Prix blighted by wet weather.
Stroll was an unfortunate bystander as he lost control of his Aston Martin on the formation lap, spinning off at Turn 4.
However, in what can only be described as a serious lack of misjudgement, the Canadian attempted to rejoin via the wet gravel trap and promptly beached his AMR24.
As DNFs go, this wasn’t one that Stroll would want to look back on fondly.
“Yeah, I’m beached,” came the nonchalant call over team radio after the profoundly rookie error.
Moreover, post-race Stroll could only account for his initial spin and gave no reason as to why he drove into the damp gravel.
“It was a really strange one,” Stroll said.
“It felt like a brake failure because as soon as I touched the brakes it locked the rear axel and I became a passenger.
“I was stuck in the gravel and my race was done.”
Still, after crashing out of Sunday morning’s delayed qualifying session, carelessly beaching himself in the gravel trap appeared a poor way for Stroll to repay the mechanics who worked to fix his car in time for the race.
Perhaps ironic were the cheers from the Brazil crowd, who were observed chanting native and Aston Martin reserve Felipe Drugovich’s name as Stroll’s nightmare unfolded.
Aston Martin boss Mike Krack calls Lance Stroll Brazil DNF: ‘Unexpected’
Aston Martin Team Principal Mike Krack also spoke post-race regarding Stroll’s issue.
Krack concurred with the Canadian’s assessment of the brakes, but still failed to truly acknowledge the gravel trap blunder.
“On the formation lap, there seemed to be an issue with Lance’s car under braking, he managed to get going but the AMR24 got beached in the heavy gravel bringing his day to a premature end,” said Krack.
“We will need to fully investigate what happened but it was unexpected.”
There wasn’t much more luck on the other side of the Aston Martin garage either.
Fernando Alonso also prompted a swift repair job by the team mechanics after crashing in qualifying.
From there, Alonso endured a miserable race, physically tormented by constant bouncing en route to finishing second last of those who made the chequered flag.
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