WHEN MIKE WILSON

BET ON LANCE STROLL

He said his name was Lawrence Stroll and that he was an important businessman in the fashion industry, in the past also a sponsor and friend of Michael Schumacher. To be honest, I didn't know him, but a few days later we spoke on the phone and he asked me to visit him in Canada. Before leaving I said to my wife: "The father told me that the boy is very good. But it's normal to say that, do you know how many times I've heard it before? I assure you that if he is not phenomenal, I will return home, I don't want to waste time". Instead, when I saw him on the track, I realised that his father had his reasons and that this was a special child, with something more than others. Above all I was surprised by his determination: it was greater than normal. And this is strange, because boys who comes from such wealthy families generally do not need to struggle to get anything; consequently, they are not very determined. Not him. Quite the contrary! Before him, the last boy I had seen with his "willingness" was Fernando (Alonso, Mike Wilson's team driver who in 1996 won the CIK-FIA 5 Continents Juniors Cup – note from the editor). Lance drove well and listened to all the advice. I remember a ROK International Final in which he started from the front row, in second place.