Will Lance Stroll prove to be More than just a Billionaire’s Son?

Most of us would have never heard of an 18-year-old from Canada called Lance Stroll, but this weekend he will become the second youngest ever F1 pilot when he gets strapped into the Williams cockpit for the season opening F1 race in Melbourne. In effect, he has walked into the Williams seat backed by his father’s money; now everyone will be asking is there enough talent to back up the money.

Max Verstappen is still in the record books as the youngest ever F1 driver, and when he blasted onto the scene n 2015, albeit with a few mistakes, his ability was clear to be seen by all. Stroll too has racked up the results in the lower leagues of motorsport and is said to be more than a little quick around the twisty bits; quick enough, that is, to get him a seat on merit in Williams.

His father, Lawrence Stroll, is the man behind global fashion brands Tommy Hilfiger and Michael Kors, and to date has bankrolled his son's speed habit to the tune of US$40 million, if you include the ownership of the Prema Power F3 team, that is. So, the question is will Junior Stroll be fast enough for the green-eyed doubters out there to separate his progress from his father’s billions?

For sure the family's bullion has helped progress him thus far, but there ain’t no pocket deep enough to keep him out there if the talent runs out.

Fellow Canadian, Jacques Villeneuve, is certainly backing the young driver for future greatness and believes that not only has Stroll's on the track results been incredible, but states he is known to work well with the team to get the car set up and ready for the race. He is a very lucky young man to have his father back him in what has traditionally been a rich man’s sport. This weekend at Albert Park, there will be some 100,000 fans to watch him. He has all the ingredients at his disposal; the question is can he make a cake good enough to satisfy F1 fans?