LANCE Stroll says his first Formula 1 podium has not yet sunk in.
The Grove-based Williams driver became the youngest rookie – and second youngest driver in history – to claim a top-three finish in a dramatic Azerbaijan Grand Prix today.
The 18-year-old Canadian was denied second place on the line in Baku by Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas, but said that did nothing to take the shine off his first ever piece of F1 silverware.
“I can’t quite realise what just happened,” Stroll said.
“I’m sort of lost for words. I couldn’t believe coming into the weekend that I would be standing on the podium.
“It was a bit disappointing to lose P2 at the end to Valtteri, but all in all it was an amazing race – I’m over the moon.
“I don’t think it’s going to sink in until the morning.”
Stroll’s teammate Felipe Massa retired, as did both Enstone-based Renaults.
But the Haas team, from Banbury secured points through Kevin Magnussen’s seventh-place finish. Romain Grosjean was 13th.
Red Bull driver Daniel Ricciardo won, but the drama came when Sebastian Vettel crashed into Lewis Hamilton, earning a ten-second penalty.
Vettel finished fourth, with a furious Hamilton fifth.
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