Lance Stroll's 2022 Formula 1 season, his sixth in the sport and fourth with the Aston Martin team, presented a year of adaptation to the new ground-effect regulations amidst a car that struggled for consistent performance.
Going in
The 2022 season marked a significant reset for Formula 1 with the introduction of sweeping technical regulations, emphasizing tunnel-floor ground-effect aerodynamics and 18-inch wheels. Aston Martin, having rebranded from Racing Point in 2021, entered the year with ambitions to climb the constructors' standings. The team, under new leadership with Mike Krack as Team Principal, aimed to leverage its growing infrastructure. Stroll, partnered with four-time World Champion Sebastian Vettel, was expected to contribute to the car's development, particularly given the radical departure from previous design philosophies. The initial pre-season testing, however, hinted at the challenges ahead for the AMR22, which displayed significant porpoising and a lack of overall pace compared to the front-running Red Bull and Ferrari.
How it played out
The AMR22 proved to be a difficult car from the outset. Early races saw Aston Martin frequently battling at the back of the midfield, often struggling to escape Q1. A significant upgrade package, dubbed the 'B-spec' car, was introduced at the Spanish Grand Prix, notably resembling the Red Bull RB18's sidepod concept. While this brought a marginal improvement in performance, it did not fundamentally alter the team's position in the pecking order. Stroll's season was characterized by a series of hard-fought races, often just outside the points. He secured his first point at the Miami Grand Prix, followed by further top-ten finishes in Azerbaijan, Canada, and Abu Dhabi. The car's inherent limitations meant that points were hard-earned, requiring opportunistic driving or favorable race conditions. Compared to teammate Sebastian Vettel, who was in his final F1 season, Stroll generally found himself a step behind in qualifying, though race pace could be closer. Vettel ultimately outscored Stroll by 37 points to 18, highlighting the senior driver's ability to extract more from the challenging machinery. This period of wrestling with a difficult car was not unique in the field; others, such as George Russell — 2022 season at Mercedes, also had to adapt to a car that initially underperformed expectations in the new era.
Defining moments
Stroll's standout performance arrived at the Singapore Grand Prix, a wet-to-dry race known for its unpredictability. Starting 11th, he navigated the treacherous conditions to secure a sixth-place finish, his best result of the season and a significant points haul for the team. This race demonstrated his ability to perform under pressure and capitalize on opportunities. Another notable moment was his P8 finish in the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, where he once again converted a midfield starting position into valuable points. These results, while not podiums, were crucial for Aston Martin's constructors' championship standing, helping them secure seventh place. The season also saw Stroll's consistent presence in the midfield battles, often engaging in robust on-track duels, a characteristic that defined many of his race weekends.
What it meant
Lance Stroll's 2022 season was one of resilience and development within a team that was still building towards its long-term goals. While the AMR22 was not a front-running car, Stroll's contributions to its development and his ability to score points in challenging circumstances were important. The experience gained in understanding the new ground-effect regulations and managing a difficult car would prove valuable for the team's trajectory. The season served as a foundational year, providing data and insights that would inform the significant step forward Aston Martin made in 2023, particularly with the arrival of Fernando Alonso. This trajectory of a team improving its car significantly between seasons is a common theme in F1, as seen with Mercedes' own recovery after a challenging start to the new regulations, which contrasted with George Russell — 2021 season where he consistently outperformed his Williams car. The 2022 campaign, therefore, positioned Stroll to be a key part of Aston Martin's future, as the team aimed for higher finishes in the subsequent seasons, a goal that would become more tangible as the team developed its AMR23, a car that saw a significant leap in performance, much like the evolution Mercedes hoped for with their W14 after the W13 of George Russell — 2023 season.
