The Son
Williams Martini Racing announced that Lance Stroll will join the Formula One team in 2017 Formula World Championship. The 18-year old currently holds the lead in the FIA Formula 3 European Championship.
Lance Stroll was introduced to the Ferrari world by his father, Jewish Billionaire Lawrence stroll, who owns the Canadian racecar circuit Circuit Mont-Tremblant in Quebec’s Laurentian Mountains. He is also collector of vintage Ferraris.
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Since beginning his karting career in 2008, aged eight, Lance Stroll had won a handful of go-karting championships, was voted Rookie of the Year and Driver of the Year, and was signed by Ferrari to its Driver Academy – the youngest person to enter the program in its history.
He secure the 2014 Italian Formula 4 Championship title and 2015 Toyota Racing Series title in New Zealand, with numerous wins to his name.
In the 2016 Euro F3 series, Lance Stroll took eleven wins and claimed the title in the second race at Imola, over a hundred points clear of his main rival Maximilian Günther. In the championship ranking, Stroll currently holds a 38-point lead over second-placed Briton Callum Ilott (Van Amersfoort Racing).
At the age of just 18, he has already proved he is a talent to watch in the future.
Thanks to these achievements, he was invited by the BRDC for an informal meeting at Silverstone. Following this interview Stroll was invited to become a Rising Star.
In an announcmet by The company Lance Stroll said: “Williams is like my family. Going into next season, it will be eight years in total since I joined at the start of 2010, so it really does feel like home here. However, I still believe we haven’t yet achieved what we should, and can do together.”
Lance Stroll added: “To be racing in Formula One in 2017 is incredible, I can’t thank Williams enough for showing faith in my ability. Racing in F1 was something I dreamt about as a young kid. When I began karting seriously, F1 was then the ultimate goal and especially when I started racing cars in 2014.
“2017 is going to be a big learning curve for me, but I’m eager to absorb everything Williams can share with me so that I improve. I’ll be taking things on a race-by-race, lap-by-lap basis and hopefully progress with experience like I did when I entered Formula 4 and then Formula 3.
“I believe contesting the FIA European Formula 3 Championship for the past two years has prepared me well for the step up. There are many elements for me to learn and I’m still young. I’ve been experiencing a 2014-spec Williams FW36 since August, which has gone very well. The power is incredible. I’m learning about the car, the incredible downforce, DRS and tyre management, finding a rhythm and finding the limit. I’m becoming more comfortable and confident with each run.
“I’ve enjoyed success in karting, F4, Toyota Racing Series and most recently F3 – winning every category I’ve competed in – so I believe I have earned a shot in F1. I’m very thankful to everyone who has helped me to reach this level.”
The Father
Forbes estimated the father stroll net worth at US$2.4 billion as for May 2016. Lawrence grew up dreaming of owning and driving Ferraris, and decided to make that a reality by following in his father’s footsteps to become an investor.
In the early 80’s, he started by investing in Pierre Cardin and soon introduced their kid’s wear line to the Canedian market. After his success, stroll did the same with Polo Ralph Lauren in Europe before co-founding Sportswear Holdings Ltd.
In 1989, along with Hong Kong investor Silas Chou, he purchasing a major stake in Tommy Hilfiger. Stroll is credited with making Tommy Hilfiger the iconic brand that it has become. In the 2000s, Chou and Stroll invested in Asprey & Garrard.
In 2003, Stroll started working with Michael Kors, similarly expanding it into the international brand that it is today.
His dream fulfilled, Stroll has some 25 Ferraris in his collection, and owns the Ferrari dealership in Quebec, as well as the Mont-Tremblant racing circuit.
