Mar.24 (GMM) Lance Stroll has been captured venting his frustration at Aston Martin’s troubled 2026 car as the team prepares for Honda’s home race in Japan.
Footage from the Chinese GP weekend has emerged showing the Canadian – the son of team owner Lawrence Stroll – fuming over team radio.
“This is the worst piece of sh*t I’ve ever driven in my f*cking life,” Stroll said.
Asked later by the media what he expects from Suzuka, he added bluntly: “Just pray. Pray with me.”
The outbursts underline the scale of Aston Martin’s crisis, with the team struggling for pace, reliability and direction amid its difficult start to the Honda era.
Two-time world champion Fernando Alonso struck a more measured but equally resigned tone.
“I’ll continue doing my part by preparing myself physically and athletically,” he said.
“Hopefully, Honda will do its homework and we can see progress.”
Honda is expected to introduce updates for its home race, but expectations inside the team appear low.
“We will continue to work hard, but we must remain realistic,” said trackside chief Mike Krack.
“We can’t perform miracles overnight. The main thing is to work on solving the existing problems, and you can only solve one problem at a time.”
Krack confirmed new parts will be evaluated in Japan, but cautioned against expecting a breakthrough.
“We’ll bring some new stuff. We’ll see how much they help,” he said.
The sporting difficulties are compounded by ongoing uncertainty at the top of the organisation, with Adrian Newey’s role shifting away from day-to-day management amid efforts to bring in a more traditional team principal like Audi’s Jonathan Wheatley.
RTBF journalist Gaetan Vigneron believes the situation demands urgent change.
“Aston needs a director,” he said.
“This person must be politically astute and unifying, which isn’t Newey’s strong suit.”
Vigneron added that returning Newey to a purely technical focus is logical given the circumstances.
“Newey is a genius, a creator, an innovator,” he said.
“When there are new regulations, he has to exploit a grey area and find what others haven’t.
“This needs to happen very quickly.”
Even the usual Honda fanfare for Suzuka appears to be missing, with no special livery plans understood to be in place.
Join Grand Prix Tours in Austin, Texas for the high-energy 2026 United States Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas. Experience nonstop action on one of Formula 1’s most exciting tracks, featuring dramatic elevation changes, thrilling overtakes, and a packed race weekend. Off the track, enjoy a festival atmosphere with live music, world-famous BBQ, and buzzing nightlife. Your Grand Prix Tours package includes a fully curated race weekend, highlighted by exclusive access to our private F1 Celebrity Talk Show, where guests gain insider insights and behind-the-scenes perspectives. With demand soaring and this event quickly becoming a modern American racing tradition, now is the time to secure your spot for an unforgettable Austin Grand Prix experience.
SHOW PACKAGES
There are motorsport events, and then there is the Indianapolis 500, the "Greatest Spectacle in Racing." Next year marks Grand Prix Tours' 42nd Indianapolis 500 tour and our decades of experience and local connections provide exclusive access that few fans ever enjoy, including police escorts on race day, a Dallara IndyCar Factory tour, Gasoline Alley and Legends Day, the Driver Introduction Ceremony, and a private dinner with former Indy driver Derek Daly. Combined with excellent hotel accommodations, seamless event planning, and Grand Prix Tours' signature service, this is far more than a race weekend; it's a once-in-a-lifetime motorsport experience. With tour spaces limited each year, we encourage you to reserve your place early for the 111th Indianapolis 500.
SHOW PACKAGES
Experience Formula 1 at its most iconic with an unforgettable trip to the 2027 Grand Prix de Monaco. Feel the excitement as the world’s best drivers race through the legendary streets of Monte Carlo, surrounded by superyachts, Mediterranean views, and the unmistakable glamour of Monaco. From incredible race viewing to carefully selected accommodations, Grand Prix Tours brings you closer to the action at one of the most prestigious and spectacular events in all of motorsport.
SHOW PACKAGES
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is the ultimate test of speed, strategy, and endurance. Watch the world's top manufacturers battle for 24 nonstop hours in one of motorsport's most prestigious events. With Grand Prix Tours handling your accommodations, transfers, and ticket options, all that's left is to experience this unforgettable bucket-list race.
SHOW PACKAGES
Feel the roar of Formula 1 at its spiritual home. Silverstone is one of the fastest and most demanding circuits in the world, where brave overtakes, lightning-fast direction changes, and flat-out commitment separate the best from the rest. Combined with the electric atmosphere created by hundreds of thousands of passionate fans, the British Grand Prix delivers a race weekend unlike any other.
SHOW PACKAGES