Stroll impresses Brawn as Racing Point top the midfield

Racing Point driver Lance Stroll caught the eye of Formula 1 managing director, motosports Ross Brawn with his drive to fourth position in the Spanish Grand Prix.

Often derided for being a 'pay driver' and facing outside accusations of 'only having his seat because his father [Lawrence Stroll] owns the team', Stroll has made the most of a strong Racing Point RP20 to prove he deserves his seat in Formula 1.

Finishing fifth on track in Barcelona, Stroll was promoted to fourth after team-mate Sergio Perez was hit with a five second time penalty for ignoring blue flags.

Writing in his Formula1.com column, Brawn said: "Lance Stroll delivered a very impressive performance.

"His overtake on Bottas at the start was audacious and brave and he had the speed to close the gap to Perez in the closing stages and get within five seconds to inch ahead of him when the Mexican’s time penalty was applied for ignoring blue flags."

Stroll had been without regular team-mate Perez for two races after the Mexican tested positive for Covid-19 ahead of the British Grand Prix.

Although Nico Hülkenberg was a more than capable stand-in, Brawn believes there was an element of relief within the team when Perez was cleared to re-enter the paddock ahead of the Barcelona weekend.

He added: "Racing Point had been very keen to get Checo back in their car.

"The Mexican [was] in supreme form early in the year before being forced to miss two Grands Prix after testing positive for Covid-19.

"His speed was very impressive from the minute he got back in the car. It’s clear he realised how much he missed driving. I think missing those two races will have hurt him a lot.

"But he didn’t let his head drop and came back in strong form, making the most of a very strong car. He’s got a reputation for being strong in the race and very strong on tyres – and he showed that again today, as he made a one-stop strategy work."

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