F1 News: Lance Stroll Condemned By Legend - "Need To Have Respect"

Former champion Jenson Button critiques Lance Stroll's conduct, emphasising the value of respect in F1.

In a recent interview, former F1 World Champion Jenson Button sharply criticised Lance Stroll's actions during the Qatar Grand Prix. Button emphasised the importance of respect in the racing community, an aspect he believes Stroll disregarded during the race weekend. 

Key Takeaways:

• Stroll's controversial behaviour during the Qatar GP, including throwing his steering wheel and pushing his physio.
• Button's critique of Stroll's off-track antics and his call for respect within the racing team.
• Aston Martin team boss Mike Krack's perspective on the intense scrutiny drivers face.

Aston Martin Press Image

Jenson Button, the 2009 Formula 1 World Champion, has expressed his disapproval of Lance Stroll's behaviour during the recent Qatar Grand Prix. The Canadian's actions, from angrily throwing his steering wheel out of the car to shoving his physio, have drawn widespread attention and criticism. Adding to the list of controversies was Stroll's interview after the race - a cold and rude engagement with a polite journalist from Sky Sports F1.

Stroll's apparent lack of awareness or acknowledgement of his actions during the United States Grand Prix also irked Button. 

"Some of it's definitely being unlucky. This is another unlucky situation he finds himself in," Button explained to Sky Sports, commenting on Stroll's issues during the first free practice. 

However, Button's main concern centred on Stroll's behaviour outside the track:

 "The big problem is the off-track antics, which I have a little bit of an issue with."

Every racing driver, according to Button, faces stressful situations. Yet, it's imperative for them to maintain composure and show respect to their team members and others they work with. 

"You need to have more respect within a team and the people you work with. I think he lost that a little bit in the last race," Button added. "As a racing driver, you get stressed in certain situations, but you need to control that. You need to have more respect within a team and the people you work with. I think he lost that a little bit in the last race."

Aston Martin's team boss, Mike Krack, weighed in on the discussion, suggesting that racing drivers, due to the nature of the sport, are always under the lens. But this was simply an excuse to Button.

"Not when it's a human being, no. It's not," Button stressed, asserting that regardless of the stress and attention, respect is paramount, especially towards colleagues in the paddock. "I understand, in one way, the stress that we're under, and the camera is always on a racing driver, but I think respect is more needed for the other people you're working with on the team."

Button was empathetic towards the individual Stroll pushed, pointing out that he was only doing his job.

"This is a grown-up sport, we can't be acting in that manner. But I'm sure he understands that, he sees it now and can move on."

For now, questions will be asked of Lance's place in the Silverstone-based squad, with him starting P19 in Sunday's United States Grand Prix.