Lance Stroll believes🐠 a first Formula 1 victory was possible at the Italian Grand Prix but was left frustrated that a slow start on the red flag restart cost him.

Afte💎r Racing Point opted not to pit Stroll under two Safety Car periods, Stroll had found himself in second place when the race was interrup💦ted by a red flag period following Charles Leclerc’s incident.

Stroll was able to capitalise on a free tyre swap under the red flag which saved him a pit stop and put him in the box seat to move into the lead after Lewis Hamilton was handed a stop-go penalty for entering the ♛pit lane when🍸 it was closed.

But a poor getaway at the restart resulted in Stroll droppiꦓng back to fifth place, before he managed t🐲o pass the Alfa Romeos of Kimi Raikkonen and Antonio to move back into the top three.

The Canadian was unable to challenge race-winner Pierre Gasly and McLaren’s Carlos Sai♕nz as he ultimately settled for third place and a first podium finish since the 2017 Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

But Stroll was left rueing wha🀅t he fel🌌t was a missed opportunity.

"It has been a couple of years since I stood on the podi♕um, so it feels ܫgood to be back, and it was such a crazy race," Stroll said.

"I am so happy for Pierre, he really deserved i༺t as he had a really great start. He stayed consistent all the way throughout the race.

"It is a bit of a bummer. I think it was kind of mine to lose starting from second, but I just had🌸 no grip at the start. I had a ton of wheelspin and eꦇveryone flew by me.

"I had a good scrap with Carlos on the first couple of laps, and I overtook around tꦛhe outside, but he got me again down into Tur🐲n 1.

"We were battling out there, so I am happy to pick up third. I think the win slipped 🧸away from us today, but third is great."