Lance Stroll is shaking up the racing world by diving headfirst into GT racing during an unexpected break in the Formula 1 calendar. Faced with a rare gap caused by the cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix due to escalating military tensions in the Middle East, Stroll has seized the opportunity to make his GT World Challenge Europe debut this weekend at Paul Ricard. The Aston Martin F1 driver will team up with Roberto Merhi, a familiar face from F1, and Aston Martin’s own academy driver Mari Boya, piloting an Aston Martin Vantage GT3 for the Comtoyou Racing team.
This surprising switch from single-seaters to GT cars didn’t happen on a whim. Stroll revealed that the idea was born during the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka, where, over dinner with Merhi and others, the trio brainstormed how to stay sharp during the sudden month-long break in racing. “We had the idea to do a GT race together,” Stroll explained. “That's really where it all started, in Japan.” The decision gained momentum quickly, with Comtoyou Racing’s owner Jean-Michel Baert playing an instrumental role in pulling everything together in just a matter of days. “It wouldn’t have been possible without Baert,” Stroll stressed.
What makes this venture even more intriguing is Stroll’s brief but telling consultation with Max Verstappen, the four-time world champion who himself has dipped his toes into GT racing recently and is set to debut in the grueling Nürburgring 24 Hours next month. Stroll and Verstappen’s chat at Suzuka centered on the best contacts and strategies to make this GT opportunity a reality. “We talked about who to contact, and since he’s already involved in GT racing, we discussed it a bit,” Stroll said. This exchange highlights a fascinating crossover between F1’s elite, with Verstappen guiding Stroll into a racing discipline where he hopes to make an immediate impact.
Stroll is no stranger to endurance racing, having competed twice in the prestigious Daytona 24 Hours prototype event. However, the GT World Challenge Europe presents a fresh challenge, especially in the fiercely competitive Pro division where his team’s Vantage will go head-to-head against 17 other cars. Despite the steep competition and his newcomer status, Stroll is eyeing more than just a weekend of fun. “In Formula 1, you don’t always have the opportunity to win,” he reflected. “Here, it’s very competitive, but even if it’s our first time and we lack experience, if everything comes together – good set-up, good feeling – winning is possible. That doesn’t really exist in Formula 1.” This candid admission reveals Stroll’s hunger for victory and the unique thrill GT racing offers compared to the often rigid hierarchy of F1.
As the 59-car field roars to life at Paul Ricard, all eyes will be on Stroll, Merhi, and Boya to see if this dynamic new trio can defy expectations and claim a stunning debut win. For Stroll, the blend of enjoyment and ambition fuels his drive into this uncharted territory, promising a weekend packed with high stakes and high drama. The Aston Martin driver’s bold leap into GT racing during F1’s forced pause is a reminder that even the world’s top drivers are hungry for fresh challenges—and willing to shake up the status quo to chase glory on new fronts.
