Aston Martin Formula 1 Team Chairman Lawrence Stroll has claimed he deserves knighthood, in recognition of the work he’s done for the English team, bringing plenty of jobs and money into the sport itself.
Speaking to the media, ahead of Aston Martin’s capital markets day, the Canadian billionaire came out with a statement that puts him front and centre as the cause of success for his F1 team in the form of Aston Martin, and he believes that he deserves a lot more credit and respect for his achievements within the team, and the sport as a whole.
“I should be knighted for what I’ve done,” he claimed quoted by AutoCar. “I’ve saved thousands of jobs and built a new Formula 1 factory with hundreds of millions of investment. The investment is staggering.”
Stroll, whose son Lance drives for Aston Martin, has invested an enormous amount into the team, which is estimated to be around $1.9-Billion.
He pointed out: “It is a huge show of my belief in the company [Aston Martin], one doesn’t put that money into a business they don’t believe in the future of.”
A bold statement for sure from the 63-year-old businessman, and while some might argue it is just one massive delusion of grandeur, the big leap in performance from the Aston Martin team this season has been astounding.
They are fighting for best of the rest status behind Red Bull with Mercedes, and in the first eight Grands Prix of the 2023 F1 season, have achieved a sum of six podiums.
Even if these impressive results may only be coming from double F1 Champion, Fernando Alonso, and not the son of the chairman himself, Lance, that does not negate the fact that the team as a whole, has made a quantum leap from seventh in the F1 Constructors’ Championship in 2022, to now fighting for second this season.