Former Formula 1 driver and 2016 champion Nico Rosberg has questioned Lance Stroll’s future in the series. According to Rosberg, if Stroll fails to close the gap to team-mate Fernando Alonso, the Canadian driver could make the decision “to try something different” before potentially being replaced by the Aston Martin team.

Stroll’s 2023 season got off to a rocky start due to broken wrists resulting from a pre-season cycling accident. Despite an impressive debut performance due to injuries, his results did not keep pace with Alonso’s podium finishes.

As the season progressed, the gap between Stroll and Alonso widened, with the Canadian scoring just 12 points in the last seven races compared to Alonso’s 71. It’s one of the biggest differences between the teammates on this year’s grid, excluding drivers from the Williams and Haas teams.

Rosberg, who is now an F1 commentator, expressed concern over Stroll’s performance and his impact on the Aston Martin team. He underlined the importance of having two competitive drivers to drive the development and set-up of the car.

“I think in the long term Aston Martin can’t really afford to have such a distant driver,” Rosberg commented. “So either Lance gets back to where he can and should be or they’ll have to start thinking about making changes with another driver in his place.”

Rosberg also raised the possibility that Stroll himself might decide to quit Formula 1 if he fails to improve his performance.

Uncertainty looms over Stroll’s future on the show, but for now he remains committed to the team, which is owned by his father Lawrence. It remains to be seen whether he will be able to turn around and stay in F1 or decide to “try something different”, as he joked recently when referring to professional tennis as an alternative.