Stroll's GT experience concludes in disappointment during Aston's turmoil.

      The outcome was a disappointing P48 out of 49 classified cars.

      Lance Stroll’s attempt to turn around his challenging 2026 season during Formula 1’s enforced break in April ended in disappointment at Paul Ricard. With Aston Martin-Honda having a terrible start to the season, the Canadian utilized the gap in the schedule to compete in the GT World Challenge Europe, arriving with high hopes.

      "In Formula 1, winning isn't always an option. The competition is fierce here, but even though this is our first time and we lack experience, if everything goes right, winning is within reach," Stroll stated before the six-hour race. "That’s not the case in Formula 1, which is a significant motivation for me to be here."

      Driving an Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 EVO for Comtoyou Racing alongside Roberto Merhi and Mari Boya, Stroll appreciated the more "pure" aspect of GT racing. "For me, whenever I’m in the car with my helmet on, whether it’s here, in Formula 1, or even in karting, the mindset is consistent," he said. "But it’s better here—fewer media obligations, more time in the garage collaborating with the team, and just the joy of driving."

      However, the reality proved to be much more challenging. After qualifying in P15, the race quickly fell apart due to penalties and incidents. When Stroll took over for the final stint, the difficulties increased. He received penalties for disregarding blue flags and exceeding track limits multiple times, accumulating over seven minutes of penalties. The end result was a disappointing P48 out of 49 classified cars.

      The contrast with Aston Martin’s struggles in Formula 1 was stark, as the team was already the slowest on the grid and facing reliability and performance challenges. Also at Paul Ricard was Max Verstappen, not as a driver but in the role of team principal, overseeing his Red Bull-backed GT entry, which finished in P10. MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi, who was also competing in the event, expressed pleasure in Verstappen’s increasing interest in GT racing. "It's fantastic to see Verstappen driving these cars. I truly hope to drive with him soon and share a couple of laps together," he remarked. "GT is an expanding category; the cars are a lot of fun to drive, and it embodies the essence of motorsport."