Lance Stroll’s move from Williams to Force India has been made official for 2019.
In August, Lance’s father Lawrence Stroll purchased the Force India team, saving it from administration. It was widely believed from that point on that the Canadian driver would be making the move across to replace either Sergio Perez or Esteban Ocon.
When Perez was confirmed to be staying with Force India in October, it became clear Stroll would be taking the place of Ocon. Earlier this year, Ocon posted to social media to defend Stroll from the social media abuse he had received after the Force India takeover, saying it was “not normal”.
Last week, the final possible destination for Ocon was closed off when Williams confirmed Robert Kubica. The Frenchman will instead fulfill reserve and test driver duties for Mercedes next season.
Stroll, 20, is coming to the end of his second season in F1. The team has been lacking performance this season but Stroll claimed its two best results of the season, finishing eighth in Azerbaijan — where he claimed a podium during his rookie 2017 campaign — and ninth in Italy.
More to follow…