Aston Martin Ambassador Backs Lance Stroll Amid Criticism

Pedro de la Rosa, Aston Martin's Formula 1 ambassador, has offered a surprising defense of driver Lance Stroll, who is dating Israeli model Yael Shelbia. Stroll, 25, has faced scrutiny for his performance, often trailing behind his veteran teammate, two-time world champion Fernando Alonso, 45. De la Rosa, speaking on the "Beyond The Grid" podcast, described Stroll as "incredibly fast" and noted that in certain areas, "you can't beat Stroll." He highlighted Stroll's particular skill in cornering, stating, "He specializes mainly in corners." However, de la Rosa acknowledged that minor errors sometimes hinder Stroll's race weekends, particularly in qualifying, though he occasionally outperforms Alonso. "Stroll is not appreciated enough," de la Rosa added. He expressed confidence that as the team improves the car and makes it more driver-friendly, Stroll's speed will match Alonso's. This season, Stroll has finished only four races, with his best result being 13th place.