Speculation continues to mount regarding the future of Aston Martin driver Lance Stroll in Formula 1.
While Fernando Alonso has already secured his place with the team for 2026 and beyond, the specifics of 25-year-old Stroll's contract remain largely undisclosed.
Stroll, often a target of criticism and the son of team owner Lawrence Stroll, has kept details scarce.
When questioned about 2025 during the FIA drivers' press conference in Montreal, Stroll gave an evasive response, echoed by team principal Mike Krack's equally vague comments.
"I think we are in a good exchange for this situation," Krack mentioned.
"We know that Aston Martin is Lance's home. He prefers to concentrate on the grand prix here," he continued in Montreal. "There's already enough going on."
"I think soon we will have to communicate something."
1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve expressed his ongoing doubts about his fellow Canadian's motivations in racing during a Friday interview with Sky.
"Did he really want to become a racing driver, or was it his father's dream?" he pondered.
However, in a conversation with The Canadian Press news agency, Stroll addressed the consistent scrutiny and criticism surrounding his career.
"It's part of it. It's kind of just what my career's been," he stated.
Stroll also spoke on his performance in 2024, defending his track record.
"Fernando (Alonso) is a two-time world champion and people see him as a top driver in Formula 1, and it's 4-4 in quali," he noted.
However, when probed about potentially moving to a team not controlled by his billionaire father, Stroll was dismissive: "No, not really. We're on a super exciting trajectory and project as Aston Martin," he added. "I'm much more excited to be part of this journey than just going to another team to say that I could be driving somewhere else."
Amid rumors that Honda-backed Yuki Tsunoda might take his place if Aston Martin agrees to a $5 million buyout fee with Red Bull, Stroll affirmed his intentions to remain Alonso's teammate in 2025.
"It's the very early days with stuff to be decided for next year, but I'm super committed to being here," he concluded.
