Newey Needs Driver Input - Says Villeneuve on Stroll's Future

Jacques Villeneuve insists Lance Stroll must fully commit and improve his image if he aims to achieve championship success.

Jacques Villeneuve believes Lance Stroll will need total commitment at Aston Martin F1 if he wants to aim for the world title his father, Lawrence, hopes to secure for him. The 1997 World Champion, who has worked alongside Adrian Newey—soon joining Aston Martin—emphasizes that drivers will play a crucial role in supporting the engineer.

“Adrian Newey cannot design a car alone,” Villeneuve stated. “He needs input from the drivers. He needs feedback from the right driver and the right people around him, which he will build over time. The factory that has been built looks extraordinary, but it takes time for the wind tunnel to function properly.”

“This will take time. But Newey will succeed in due course. Lawrence’s [Stroll] goal is to make his son a world champion. That’s why he’s investing so much money. That’s why he’s doing all of this. Can it happen? Who knows?”

According to Villeneuve, Stroll needs to improve his public image, which would help him gain greater support:
“Does Lance need to improve his image? Being liked in this industry is important. If you win every race like [Max] Verstappen, maybe you can be liked a little less.”

“But at some point, it backfires. When you are appreciated, you end up going faster because everyone behind you pushes and helps you. It’s the same with mechanics. It’s a collective energy. So, it’s important for Lance to improve his image in the media.”