Formula 1: Lance Stroll to drive for Force India in 2019

After months of everyone knowing it was coming, Force India have finally confirmed Lance Stroll has their second driver for the 2019 Formula 1 season.

Racing Point Force India have finally confirmed that Lance Stroll is set to be their second driver in the 2019 Formula 1 after several months of speculation that pretty much amounted to everyone knowing that the move was inevitable.

The 20-year-old Canadian, who has driven for Williams Martini Racing in both of the last two seasons, is set to replace Esteban Ocon as the teammate to Sergio Perez, who has driven for the team since the 2014 season.

Here is what Stroll had to say about the opportunity to drive for Force India in the 2019 season, according to The Drive.

"“This is the beginning of an incredibly exciting journey in my Formula One career. I look forward to working alongside a successful team with a great culture. It’s a new challenge and I am excited to embrace this new opportunity!”"

Here is what Force India team principal Otmar Szafnauer had to say about Stroll being set to drive for the team in the 2019 season, according to The Drive.

"“I’m pleased that we can finally confirm Lance’s arrival to race alongside Sergio next year. It gives us an exciting line-up with the perfect blend of youth, talent, and experience. Lance is only twenty and already has two years of Formula One experience under his belt, as well as a podium finish and a front row start. We see huge potential in Lance and believe we can create an environment in which he can flourish.“Our team has enjoyed great success nurturing and developing young and talented drivers, and we are very excited to begin our journey with Lance. I would also like to take the opportunity to thank Esteban Ocon for his contribution to the team over the last two seasons and wish him well for the future.”"

This move was rumored since July, but it became clear that it would eventually end up happening one way or another in August when a consortium led by billionaire Canadian investor Lawrence Stroll, Lance’s father, purchased Force India.

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Lawrence Stroll spent roughly $80 million to get his son a ride with Williams last season, so there was never really a doubt that he would make him one of Force India’s two drivers for the 2019 season.

In his first two seasons competing in Formula 1, Stroll has competed in 41 races. He recorded seven top 10 finishes, including a career-high third place finish in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, in the 2017 season, en route to a 12th place finish in the driver standings. Williams finished the season in fifth in the constructor standings, but this past season, they ended up finishing in 10th (last) and really never had a chance to get into the top nine.

As a result, Stroll struggled mightily this past season. In 21 races, he recorded just two top 10 finishes, and his best finish was his eighth place finish in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. He finished in 18th in the driver standings.

Force India, meanwhile, finished in fourth place in the constructor standings in the 2017 season. While they finished in seventh in the 2018 season, they really totaled enough points to finish in fifth, but they lost the points that they earned in the season’s first 12 races after the Stroll-led consortium purchased the team and renamed them Racing Point Force India from Sahara Force India.

How will Lance Stroll perform in his first season driving for Force India? The 2019 Formula 1 season is scheduled to begin with the Australian Grand Prix from Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit in Melbourne, Australia on Sunday, March 17, 2019, so be sure to tune in to it.