Lance Stroll has refused to comment on rumours linking him with a seat at Force India in 2019, although admits he will be considering his options.
This season was supposed to be a key barometer of the young Canadian’s progress after a steady rookie year following his controversial call up to replace Felipe Massa before actually taking the seat of Valtteri Bottas for 2017.
Instead, it has gotten lost in the mess that is Wiliams’ worst season in recent history with a flawed car design that has left the team at the back of the grid and bottom of the Constructors’ Championship.
With the big-money backing of his father, fashion mogul Lawrence Stroll, that is likely to give him sway, particularly at a team like Force India which is in need of big sponsorship funds as they seek a buyer.
“I want to do what’s best for me as a driver, so we will come to all the conclusions at the right time and figure out what’s best for the future,” he said on Thursday.
“I don’t know yet what I’m doing or where my future is going. I’m still focused on where I am right now, what I’m doing today and we’ll see what the future holds.”
The Stroll family is believed to be frustrated by the predicament at Williams, however, the team themselves insist there has been no indication of a move away.
“As far as I’m concerned we’re working very much in the present with Lance,” said technical director Paddy Lowe.
“It’s true he hasn’t committed for next year. We haven’t committed to him either, so that is an open point. Where it lands, who knows.
“We would love to stay with Lance and that’s our assumption at the moment.”
