Ocon stirs surprise with a comparison between Verstappen and Stroll

The Aston Martin driver has been under fire recently, starting with a suspected outburst in his garage after his elimination in Q2 around the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.

After said alleged episode, the 26-year-old did not participate in Spain and had to undergo surgery on his wrist, which he'd previously injured in a cycling accident in the winter of 2023.

Last weekend was Stroll's home race at the Canadian Grand Prix, but in Montreal, he continued with his struggles behind the wheel of the Aston Martin and was heavily penalised. In the run-up to Sunday's Grand Prix, the Canadian was accused of being arrogant during the press conference.

Esteban Ocon recognises the struggles of Stroll but is full of defence for the Canadian: ‘’I know he doesn't talk much, but he's open to the people he trusts. He's really nice, and the same goes for his father," the Frenchman says while speaking to Le Journal de Montréal.

The quality of Stroll is sometimes debated, but unjustly so, according to Ocon, who saw the Aston Martin driver winning against the likes of Max Verstappen in the past: ‘’Lance managed to win international kart races during the period when Verstappen, Leclerc, and I were competing.

"We all raced against each other, and Lance was definitely a part of that. It's not that money got him there [in Formula 1]. There might be easier ways to get into the sport, but in the end, you don't bring money into the car," Ocon concludes.