In what can only be described as a nightmare weekend, Lance Stroll’s outing at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix turned into a spectacularly unfortunate series of errors, capped by an embarrassing retirement before the race even began. Facing treacherous conditions at Interlagos, Stroll spun off on the formation lap, only to make a miscalculated attempt to rejoin the track through the wet gravel, resulting in his AMR24 being firmly beached.
As the Canadian driver’s car sat helplessly in the gravel trap, Stroll’s dejected radio call—“Yeah, I’m beached”—perfectly captured the moment. Reflecting on the mishap, Stroll suggested a brake failure was to blame for the initial spin, explaining, “It felt like a brake failure because as soon as I touched the brakes it locked the rear axle, and I became a passenger.” However, he had no clear explanation for his choice to drive through the gravel trap—a move that quickly ended his race.
Stroll’s hasty exit from the Grand Prix wasn’t just frustrating for him but also a major disappointment for the Aston Martin mechanics, who had scrambled to repair his car following his qualifying crash. To add to the irony, Brazilian fans took the opportunity to cheer for reserve driver and local favorite Felipe Drugovich as Stroll’s misfortunes unfolded.
Aston Martin Team Principal Mike Krack backed up Stroll’s comments about a potential braking issue but left the gravel incident largely unaddressed. “There seemed to be an issue with Lance’s car under braking, but the AMR24 got beached in the heavy gravel, ending his day early,” Krack said, emphasizing that a full investigation would be necessary.
It was hardly a better day for teammate Fernando Alonso, who also crashed in qualifying, forcing the mechanics into another swift repair. Alonso’s race proved just as challenging, with the Spaniard wrestling his car through relentless bouncing, eventually finishing second-last among those who crossed the line.
For Aston Martin, Brazil will be a weekend to forget, as both drivers struggled with unforced errors and poor luck. With Stroll’s future under the microscope, this incident may not be the impression he wanted to leave as the season nears its end.
