Villeneuve offers Stroll key advice: ‘Be liked’

1997 F1 champion Jacques Villeneuve has told Lance Stroll that he needs to “be liked” in the pinnacle of motorsport. 

The Aston Martin driver has a mixed relationship with F1’s audience, with it having become common for his media pen interviews to be very short. 

Stroll endured a miserable 2024 season, which saw him collect just 24 points compared to Fernando Alonso’s 70. 

He failed to score a point across the final 11 races, whilst he ended up not starting the São Paulo Grand Prix after crashing on the formation lap. 

In Brazil, he had initially recovered his car after spinning on the formation lap at Turn 4, before then becoming beached in the gravel.

It has resulted in further questions being directed towards his father, Aston Martin team owner Lawrence Stroll, as to why the driver continues to be given a seat. 

In Villeneuve’s eyes, being liked is key not only for a positive media image but also to drive faster. 

According to the 53-year-old, liked drivers are often faster as more people push them to succeed, leading to a better relationship with mechanics and engineers. 

“Does Lance need to improve his persona? It’s important to be liked in this industry,” Villeneuve told Spin Casino. “If you win every race like Verstappen, you can maybe be liked a little bit less.

“But at some point it comes back to bite you. When you’re liked, you end up going faster because everybody behind you is pushing you, helping you. 

“The same thing happens with the mechanics. It’s a general energy. So, it is important that Lance improves his appeal in the media.”