Lance Stroll — 2019 season

Going in

Lance Stroll's 2019 Formula 1 season, his first with the rebranded Racing Point F1 Team, was defined by a significant points haul at the German Grand Prix amidst a broader effort to extract performance from a midfield car, ultimately securing 15th in the Drivers' Championship. Following two challenging seasons with Williams, including a difficult Lance Stroll — 2018 season where the team struggled at the back of the grid, Stroll moved to Racing Point as the team entered its first full season under new ownership. The outfit, formerly Force India, had a reputation for maximizing its resources, and expectations were for Stroll to demonstrate consistent progress in a more competitive environment. The V6 turbo-hybrid era, established since 2014, continued to see Mercedes at the forefront, meaning midfield battles were intense for any available points.

How it played out

The season began with a promising ninth-place finish at the Australian Grand Prix, securing two points. However, the early races often saw Stroll qualifying and finishing outside the top ten, frequently in the 14th to 18th range. The Racing Point RP19 proved to be a challenging car to consistently extract performance from, particularly in qualifying. Stroll's teammate, Sergio Pérez, also found consistency elusive at times, though he ultimately finished higher in the championship standings with 52 points to Stroll's 21. The car's performance ebbed and flowed, making regular points finishes a difficult prospect for both drivers. Despite this, Stroll managed to convert several opportunities into points, including another ninth place in Azerbaijan and his home race in Canada.

Defining moments

The standout performance of Stroll's 2019 campaign arrived at the German Grand Prix. Held at the Hockenheimring, the race was characterized by unpredictable wet-dry conditions that created a chaotic field. Starting from 15th on the grid, Stroll navigated the challenging circumstances, making adroit strategy calls and demonstrating strong race craft to climb through the order. He crossed the finish line in fourth position, securing 12 points – more than half his season's total in a single event. This result underscored his ability to perform under pressure in variable conditions. Other points finishes included a tenth place at the Belgian Grand Prix and another ninth at the Japanese Grand Prix. The season also saw two retirements: a collision at the Spanish Grand Prix and a suspension issue in Brazil, followed by brake failure in Abu Dhabi.