Lance Stroll: I try to live in my own world.

      Lance Stroll is one of the paddock’s most divisive figures. He is in his ninth season in Formula 1, with three podiums and one pole position to his name, yet the Canadian Aston Martin driver often comes under very harsh criticism.

      Many believe he remains in the championship only because he drives for a team owned by his father, Lawrence Stroll, and it’s hard to argue with that. Lance’s performances are very inconsistent; suffice it to say that across all 18 rounds of the season he was slower than his teammate Fernando Alonso in every qualifying session.

      The race statistics are less damning: he managed to finish ahead of the 44-year-old Spanish veteran on six occasions, and Stroll is only four points behind. But it should be noted that Alonso was rather unlucky early in the season; in the last ten races he has finished in the top ten seven times, whereas Stroll has done so only three times.

      Speaking on the Aston Martin F1 video podcast, Stroll said he pays no attention to criticism: “I’m fortunate in that it’s just noise to me. If I were to take it on board, of course it would start to bother me. But I’m surrounded by people I love and trust, and I only value their opinions. I try to live in my own world… And there will always be criticism. People have short memories: you have a couple of good races — you’re a hero. Have a couple of bad ones — you’re a loser. And that will never change. Don’t pay attention to criticism from people whose advice you wouldn’t take… I think it’s precisely in moments of failure that you learn most about yourself; it’s hardships that help you grow.”