Former driver and 2016 Formula 1 champion Nico Rosberg has questioned Lance Stroll’s future in the category. According to Rosberg, if Stroll fails to close the gap to teammate 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 rough start due to broken wrists resulting from a bicycle accident before the preseason. Despite an impressive debut performance due to injuries, his results did not keep up with Alonso’s podium finishes.

As the season has progressed, the gap between Stroll and Alonso has grown wider and wider, with the Canadian scoring just 12 points in the last seven races compared to Alonso’s 71. This is one of the biggest differences between the teammates on this year’s grid, excluding the 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 stressed the importance of having two competitive drivers to drive the development and setup of the car.

“I think in the long term, for Aston Martin, they can’t really afford to have a driver that far back,” commented Rosberg. “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 of Stroll making his own decision to leave Formula 1 if he fails to improve his performance.

Uncertainty hangs 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 things around and stay in F1 or whether he will decide to “try something different”, as he recently joked about professional tennis as an alternative.