Stroll: Williams has “unanswered questions”

Lance Stroll is aiming to use the “steep learning curve” of his rookie Formula 1 season as a foundation to a successful 2018 with Williams.

The Canadian teenager was the only driver outside of Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull to reach the podium last year, with third place in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, to become the youngest-ever rostrum finisher in F1 history.

Stroll accepts along with the highlight of the Baku city street race there were a handful of frustrating moments in his rookie F1 campaign but with a year’s experience in the sport he’s keen to make progress in 2018.

The 19-year-old has faith Williams will produce a competitive F1 car in the FW41 and is relishing the chance to get up to speed with pre-season testing at Circuit de Catalunya beginning on February 26.

“Ahead of every new season there is a lot of anticipation and unanswered questions and this makes it even more exciting,” Stroll said. “With a season under my belt with the team, I can't wait to get back on track and see what the new car is like.

“Until we are on track we will not know what the competition has been doing, but I am very excited and optimistic about the car the team has built. Last year was a steep learning curve for me and now I can't wait to see what 2018 has in store.”

Stroll welcomes new teammate Sergey Sirotkin alongside him at Williams for his maiden F1 season, replacing Brazilian Felipe Massa, while the British squad has also taken on former race winner Robert Kubica as its reserve and test driver.