"This is not a car, this is not a car right now": Lance Stroll's exasperated team radio during the F1 Azerbaijan GP FP1

Aston Martin driver Lance Stroll voiced his exasperation on the team radio during the FP1 session at the 2024 Azerbaijan Grand Prix. The Canadian driver did not have an ideal start to the weekend as he complained of facing issues with his AMR24.

The British team have been struggling to get the maximum performance out of the car for a while now as they have slipped into the clutches of the midfield. Stroll, on the other hand, has been looking to regain some consistent form heading in the Azerbaijan GP, where he scored his first podium in 2017.

During the FP1 session, Lance Stroll communicated his struggles with the AMR24 on the team radio and remarked:

"This is not a car, this is not a car right now."

Stroll later claimed that he was facing 'huge understeer in the mid-corner' and was asked:

"Would you consider a flap adjustment?"

To which the 25-year-old replied:

"No, it's mechanical balance."

However, it was unclear whether his teammate Fernando Alonso faced similar issues to Stroll as the latter finished P7 in the FP1 session compared to the Canadian's P13.

In his pre-race interview, Lance Stroll had termed the Baku City Circuit as 'one of the most challenging' on the calendar given its tricky nature and long straights.

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Lance Stroll gives his take on the Baku City Circuit

Aston Martin driver Lance Stroll said that the precise nature of the middle sector at the Baku City Circuit, its unpredictability, and variety of corners made the track enjoyable for him to drive. He said (via PitPass):

"Baku is one of the most challenging circuits on the calendar but usually provides great racing because of that. The walls are super close, so there's no room for error, especially in sector two which has some of the tightest track sections of the entire season," Stroll said.

"Those characteristics mean that there's a high probability of Safety Cars, so we need to be sharp in terms of strategy and capitalize on any opportunities that come our way," he added.

Expressing excitement over racing at this track for the very same reason, Stroll further highlighted that one needs sharp maneuverability and precision to find success.

"The variety and the unpredictability that the circuit provides is what makes racing here so exciting. You need to be very precise through the middle sector, winding around the walls and trying to pick up time, and then position your car to attack down the main straight into Turn One, where there's a high chance of overtaking."

Stroll emphasized that Aston Martin needed to keep pushing in the remaining races, owing to the fiercely competitive situation on the grid and the fact that the next eight races could be pivotal to gathering data for the upcoming 2025 season.

The Silverstone-based outfit is currently P5 in the Constructor's Championship with 74 points to their name, however, Lance Stroll is facing some heat in the driver's championship with Nico Hulkenberg and Yuki Tsunoda chasing his P10 slot.