Stroll’s Force India Debut on Hold for Now

Williams driver Lance Stroll paid the Force India factory a visit earlier today. This visit was amid ongoing speculation that he could move to his father’s Formula 1 team before the end of the season.

However, the Silverstone-based outfit remained mum on the reason for Stroll’s visit. But it is widely understood that he went to have a seat fitting.

Sources also confirmed that the team will retain its current driver line-up of Sergio Perez and Esteban Ocon for the Italian Grand Prix at Monza.

Ocon’s position in the team is said to be at risk from a Stroll move. AfterFollowing last weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix, Stroll said he was “on standby” for a potential change of teams.

The team was rescued from administration following the Hungarian Grand Prix in a deal to sell the team’s assets to a consortium including Stroll’s father Lawrence. However the team had to forfeit all the points it had scored so far in order to re-enter the championship.

Perez and Ocon finished fifth and sixth in the first race for the ‘new’ team in last weekend’s race at Spa.

Both Ocon and Perez had fantastic runs in Belgium as they recorded a 5th and 6th place finish. The weekend was much sweeter for them as Ocon even managed to qualify 3rd with Perez flanking him in 4th.

Historically speaking, the Spa-Francorchamps circuit has always been kind to the Force India team. It started when Giancarlo Fisichella scored a shock pole position in 2008. The Italian later went on to finish 2nd, Force India’s best ever finish to date.

The team has gone from strength to strength, even finishing 4th in the constructors, twice. With the ability to possibly become giant-killers, it is gratifying that the team is sticking around longer.