Lance Stroll ignored repeated team orders to let Fernando Alonso pass during the Hungarian Grand Prix, stirring up drama at Aston Martin.
- McLaren also issued team orders, instructing Lando Norris to let Oscar Piastri retake the lead, which he eventually did.
- Stroll remained silent despite multiple requests from his race engineer to yield P10 to Alonso before the race concluded.
- Fernando Alonso believed the chosen race strategy was flawed, contributing to his difficulties.
- Despite the tension, neither Aston Martin driver commented on the issue post-race.
In a race full of strategic maneuvers and team orders, Lance Stroll of Aston Martin became the center of attention for defying instructions. McLaren wasn’t the only team giving orders that Sunday; their drivers were directed to swap positions to ensure a one-two finish. However, the spotlight shifted when Stroll brushed off repeated commands to allow his teammate Fernando Alonso to overtake him and secure P10.
Oscar Piastri led McLaren’s charge until the second pit-stop, where Lando Norris was told to let Piastri back into the lead. For 20 long laps, Norris resisted but eventually relented, giving Piastri his first Grand Prix win. Meanwhile, Aston Martin faced their own saga. Stroll’s race engineer, Andrew Vizard, made several attempts to convince Stroll to drop back and let Alonso pass before the chequered flag. The radio dialogue, which TV audiences missed, was straightforward yet ignored by Stroll.
Vizard urged, “Lance, I suggest you drop back, let Fernando pass. He’s four seconds back.” Despite the clear instructions, Stroll stayed silent. After the race ended, so did Alonso’s hopes, as Stroll took the final point, leaving Alonso and the team without a critical edge in the championship.
Alonso, who started on soft tires and pitted early, criticized the strategy. “I think the strategy was not the right one today,” he said. The early pit stop forced him into a difficult position, as he had to go 63 laps on medium and hard tires—a risky decision. “So, not a great pace and the strategy didn’t help,” he added, reflecting on a race that could have gone differently.
With Aston Martin sitting in P5 in the Constructors’ Championship and just 36 points behind a key competitor, every point matters. The lack of coordination and resulting missed point could prove pivotal. Yet, post-race, both drivers chose to remain mum, leaving fans and analysts to speculate about the internal dynamics at play.
The drama at Aston Martin leaves a lot of questions unanswered, but one thing is clear: team orders are easier said than done.
Source: Planetf1
