Lance Stroll has acknowledged that he is entering Formula One next year with significant financial backing.
However, the Canadian teenager has denied that it is the sole reason for his promotion to motorsport's top echelon with Williams.
"There are two ways it works," Stroll said. "One way is you need to have a sponsor, or a family member, someone who helps you from eight-years-old until whatever age you arrive to Formula One, if you arrive to Formula One."
"Without that, I wouldn't have been able to move from Canada to Europe and pursue my dream.
"After that, no matter how much money you have, no matter where you come from, if you don't actually turn the steering wheel left and right, and go as quickly as possible around the track, you don't win races."
Following the meteoric rise of another teenage sensation, Max Verstappen, and a perceived increase in the number of 'pay drivers', the FIA implement a minimum age of 18, plus a points criteria for awarding drivers superlicences to compete in F1.
Because of that, Stroll believes he has earned his place in F1.
"Money can't buy wins. Money can buy the opportunity, it can buy a seat in go-karts, F4 and F3," he said.
"But if you don't have the Super Licence points now, which requires winning championships like F4, F3, GP2, you need to get those 40 points, which I've done, you can't get into Formula One."
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