Lance Stroll has revealed his ambitions for 2019 as he prepares for the “next chapter” of his Formula 1 career at Racing Point.
The Canadian joined new teammate Sergio Perez to unveil the livery of the RP19 at the Toronto International Autoshow on Wednesday, the first since the takeover of Force India last summer.
And now with an opportunity to prove himself after a tough two years at Williams, Stroll is setting a lofty standard to aim for with the added target of repeating his greatest F1 accomplishment to this point.
“I always aim high so I want us to be competitive right from the start,” he said. “It’s way too early to know how we compare to the other teams, but right here today I believe we should be fighting for points in every race.
“My goal is to get back on the podium in 2019 as well,” the 20-year-old added.
Racing Point was the last midfield squad to score a top-three finish, doing so via Perez in Baku last year, with Stroll himself doing the same a year earlier.
What is obvious though, without the financial woes of the past 12 months to think about, is how much expectation there is about what is to come.
“I’m feeling really good about things,” Lance commented. “I can see how much potential we have in this team and there’s an incredible buzz in the factory and so much enthusiasm.
“I feel comfortable already and everybody has given me a great welcome. It’s the next chapter in my racing career and I just can’t wait to get in the car and start the proper work.”
Away from the track too, Racing Point is looking to make strides as they aim to eventually challenge at the very front of the grid.
“There is a huge amount going on behind the scenes and I would say it has been the busiest winter I can remember,” team boss Otmar Szafnaeur claimed.
“Not only are we delivering the new car, but we are also planning for the future and trying to improve our facilities and tools following years of underinvestment.
“We are expanding the current factory to accommodate a growing workforce and simultaneously planning the build of a new facility, which will also be located in Silverstone.
“These are not easy tasks and they require lots of energy and resources to deliver. But we are well aware that the focus of our key people needs to remain on the performance of the car and that’s very much the case.”