Stroll: Track record proves I earned F1 seat with Williams - MotorSportsTalk

Lance Stroll is confident that his record through junior motorsport categories proves that he has earned his place in Formula 1 with Williams for 2017.

Williams announced on Thursday that Stroll, 18, would be joining its F1 line-up for 2017, partnering Valtteri Bottas.

The Canadian driver has spent two years racing in single-seaters, winning the Italian F4 title in 2015 before becoming the youngest FIA F3 champion in history this season.

Stroll’s career has been bankrolled by his billionaire father, Lawrence, who made his fortune as an investor in Tommy Hilfiger.

Stroll Jr. has enjoyed a substantial testing program funded by his father in anticipation of his F1 debut, getting to grips with a 2014-spec Williams at a number of tracks across the globe over the past few months.

However, Stroll insists that his background is not of importance, instead wanting to do his talking on-track as he did through his junior racing career.

“I come from money, I’m not going to deny that,” Stroll said.

“I believe I won my shot in F1 because I won every championship I’ve competed in in single-seaters.

“Now the FIA have put in Super Licence for that reason, so people can’t buy their way into F1. You have to prove yourself and win in junior categories.

“I don’t want to say when I’ll be able to show I’m not just here for money. That just depends on so many things.

“I’m just going to worry about my business. I’m very happy to be here and I’m just looking forward to next season.”

“Money doesn’t drive performance. You either have the talent or you don’t,” Williams deputy team boss Claire Williams added.

“Lance has proved he has talent and has done what he has done. He has to do the job next year and he will do that.”

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The NTT IndyCar Series will return to the Motor City for the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix but with start times in a new location for 2023.

After a 30-year run on Belle Isle, the Detroit GP has moved a few miles south to the streets of downtown on a new nine-turn, 1.645-mile circuit that runs along the Detroit River.

It’s the first time single-seater open-cockpit cars have raced on the streets of Detroit since a CART event on a 2.5-mile downtown layout from 1989-91. Formula One also raced in Detroit from 1982-88.

The reimagined Detroit Grand Prix also will play host to nightly concerts and bring in venders from across the region. Roger Penske predicts the new downtown locale will be bigger for Detroit than when the city played host to the 2006 Super Bowl.

Here are the details and IndyCar start times for the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach race weekend (all times are ET):

CHEVROLET DETROIT GRAND PRIX INDYCAR START TIMES

TV: Sunday, 3 p.m. ET on NBC and streaming on Peacock, the NBC Sports App and NBCSports.com. Leigh Diffey is the announcer with analysts Townsend Bell and James Hinchcliffe. Dave Burns, Marty Snider and Kevin Lee are the pit reporters. Click here for the full NBC Sports schedule for IndyCar in 2023.

Peacock also will be the streaming broadcast for both practices and qualifying.

POSTRACE SHOW ON PEACOCK: After the race’s conclusion, an exclusive postrace show will air on Peacock with driver interviews, postrace analysis and the podium presentation. To watch the extended postrace show, click over to the special stream on Peacock after Sunday’s race ends.

COMMAND TO START ENGINES: 3:23 p.m. ET

GREEN FLAG: 3:30 p.m. ET

PRACTICE: Friday, 3 p.m. (Peacock Premium); Saturday, 9:05 a.m. (Peacock Premium); Sunday, 10 a.m. (Peacock Premium)

PRACTICE RESULTS: Session I l Session II l Combined

QUALIFYING: Saturday, 1:20 p.m. (Peacock Premium)

STARTING LINEUP: Alex Palou captured the first street course pole of his IndyCar career; click here for where everyone will begin Sunday’s race

RACE DISTANCE: The race is 100 laps (170 miles) on a nine-turn, 1.645-mile temporary street course in downtown Detroit.

TIRE ALLOTMENT: Seven sets primary, four sets alternate. Rookie drivers are allowed one extra primary set for the first practice.

PUSH TO PASS: 150 seconds of total time with a maximum time of 15 seconds per activation (Indy NXT: 150 seconds total, 15 seconds per). The push-to-pass is not available on the initial start or any restart unless it occurs in the final two laps or three minutes of a timed race. The feature increases the power of the engine by approximately 60 horsepower.

FORECAST: According to Wunderground.com, it’s expected to be 80 degrees with a 0% chance of rain.

ENTRY LIST: Click here to view the 27 drivers racing Sunday at Detroit

INDY NXT RACES: Saturday, 12:05 p.m. 45 laps/55 minutes (Peacock Premium); Sunday, 12:50 p.m. 45 laps/55 minutes (Peacock Premium)

INDY NXT ENTRY LIST: Click here to view the 19 drivers racing at Detroit