Lance Stroll is set to receive his first taste of life at Force India during next week’s post-season Formula 1 test at the Yas Marina Circuit.
Stroll’s exit from Williams’ driver line-up was finally confirmed on Thursday, with the team announcing Robert Kubica as George Russell’s 2019 team-mate.
Stroll’s departure from Williams has been expected since his father, Lawrence, led a buyout of Force India mid-season.
Speculation linked Stroll with a move during the campaign, with the youngster undertaking a seat fitting after the Belgian Grand Prix, but he ultimately remained at Williams.
Force India has yet to confirm Stroll as Sergio Perez’s partner for 2019 but the Canadian commented that he expects an announcement “in the very near future".
Formula 1 teams are staying on at Yas Marina for two days of post-race testing on Tuesday and Wednesday, ostensibly to gather understanding of Pirelli’s 2019 tyres.
Several drivers are set to run for their new teams, including Russell at Williams and Carlos Sainz Jr., with Stroll poised to join them on track in Force India’s VJM11.
Confirmation of Williams’ 2019 line-up, allied to Stroll’s impending switch to Force India, leaves Mercedes-backed Esteban Ocon without a seat on next year’s grid.
Speaking on Thursday about his plans, Ocon said: “We’ll see what it holds for me.
“Definitely I will be around in the F1 paddock and trying to get as much mileage as possible in a Formula 1 car next year.
“Me and Mercedes, we see great opportunities for me to come back in 2020 so hopefully that will be the case and hopefully I will be back even stronger than I am now.”
