# Stroll's race frustrations start before grid

> Lance Stroll's race engineer says his car was broken before he even left the grid.
- Title: Stroll's race frustrations start before grid · RaceFans
- Summary: Lance Stroll's race engineer says his car was broken before he even left the grid. Lance Stroll struggled with rear grip and tyre performance during the 2026…
- Keywords: lance stroll, aston martin, bahrain grand prix, 2026, race engineer, tyre performance, rear grip, grid, sports, cars, Stroll's, race
- Source: RaceFans — https://racefans.net/2026/10/06/f-this-s-strolls-frustrations-began-before-he-even-left-the-grid-in-sepang
- Published: 2026-10-06T14:35:32+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: lance stroll, aston martin, f1, bahrain grand prix, 2026, race engineer, tyre performance, rear grip, grid, sports, cars
## Stroll's race frustrations start before grid
Lance Stroll struggled to reach the chequered flag in his Aston Martin this season.
## Pre-race nose piece issue
Stroll discovered his team hadn’t left his nose piece in his helmet before the race began.
## Early race tyre switch
Stroll switched to intermediates after starting on medium compound tyres due to wet conditions.
## Pit stop for hard tyres
Stroll pitted for hard tyres on lap nine but they did not last as long as he hoped.
## Rear grip problems
Stroll reported his rear grip was severely compromised during the race.
## Engineer's advice on settings
Stroll's engineer suggested brake balance adjustments to improve rear grip.

> Brake balance plus one for rear locking
## Tyre degradation concerns
Stroll noted his tyres were 'fucking grained' and struggling with performance.

> It’s just grain, the tyres are fucking grained
## Multiple pit stops
Stroll made four pit stops during the race to manage tyre performance.
## Virtual Safety Car impact
A Virtual Safety Car period followed by a full Safety Car helped Stroll re-enter contention.
## Final race struggles
Stroll finished 12th after struggling with rear grip and tyre performance throughout the race.
## Engineer's final assessment
Stroll's engineer admitted the car's balance was incorrect and needed adjustment.

> We’ll just keep working on getting us a better balance in the race
## Key takeaway

Lance Stroll struggled with rear grip and tyre performance during the 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix, finishing 12th after multiple pit stops.