Lance Stroll has difficult opening day in Qatar that ends with Canadian under attack on social media following clash with personal trainer.

Only this week in our newsletter we suggested that rather than the anodyne comments included in the press releases issued at the end of each day's action, a microphone should be shoved in the face of the drivers in the moments after they climb from their cars in order that we get the truth.

Surely there is no better example than that at Aston Martin, where the reality and the press release bear no relation to one another.

"It was a disappointing qualifying session today," admits Lance Stroll in the official release. "My first lap was deleted due to track limits and I had to abort my second due to traffic, so I had a big job to do for my final run.

"The car felt okay," he adds, "but we just didn't have the pace. We've got another opportunity to go again tomorrow, and learn what we can ahead of the Sprint events."

Whereas the reality was...

"Yeah, it's shit," as admitted by the Canadian in the moments after a session which saw him qualify 17th for Sunday's race.

"I don't know," he added when asked why the car isn't working for him, before adding that his approach will be to "keep driving", and then walking away leaving his interviewer hanging mid-sentence.

Earlier, TV replays had shown the Canadian physically push his personal trainer, Henry Howe after being told he had to go to the FIA's weighing area.

Clearly, Stroll's mood wasn't helped by the fact that teammate Fernando Alonso had qualified fourth, the Spaniard looking to increase the 127 point difference between the pair this weekend.

Not wanting to add to the youngster's pressure, the fact is that this year he has been off the boil, and despite the fact that Aston Martin has also allowed itself to fall behind as the season developed, had he made the most of the car at the beginning of the season the Silverstone-based outfit might not find itself under pressure from McLaren, having already lost out to Ferrari.

If Alonso can continue to try and wring the best out of the car at every opportunity, so can Stroll.

As for the histrionics, they are not a good look for the driver, his team or the sport, and if he really feels that "it's shit" maybe he should make way for someone prepared to give his all.

Check out our Friday gallery from Lusail here.

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by kenji, 08/10/2023 3:06

"@Keep it on track.....I find that comment lacking any credibility massively. Alonso doesn't need to do anything more other than execute his race craft at each and every race. The results tell the story.
"

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2. Posted by Keep_it_on_track, 07/10/2023 21:30

"Anybody else suspecting Alonso’s been at work behind the scenes undermining his team-mate? He does this at every team for which he has driven. Not saying that Stroll is a great driver, by any means, but I would not be surprised if FA has found a way to twist the knife."

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3. Posted by Defiant, 07/10/2023 17:53

"How long can daddies boy be tolerated? Time to drop the dead weight, well actually, it's lonnnnnnng past time."

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4. Posted by F1nerd, 07/10/2023 16:04

"Mick Schumacher is looking for a seat for next year. And after being nursed by Toto this year he could be a wise choice. He would probably be a lot better than Lance."

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5. Posted by kenji, 07/10/2023 11:18

"I think that the Strolls need to sit down and discuss their future insofar as just how long can the agony be prolonged. Surely Lance's woeful reults cannot be tolerated by the team, the fans and the shareholders for much longer. With tempers flaring Stroll Jnr. should consider whether or he's fit race on. With so many issues he needs to concentrate on his driving and that must be extremely difficult given the status quo. There's no shame on being beaten by a superior talent as just being there is a success of a sort....."

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6. Posted by Wokingchap, 07/10/2023 9:50

""maybe he should make way for someone prepared to give his all."
Absolutely yes..... but it'll be very interesting to see how this plays out.
"

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Stroll cracking under the pressure?

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