Stroll is believed to be on pole position to land a racing drive with the team next year.

The Canadian drove the 2014-spec Williams FW36 to gain experience of the much more powerful car, continuing his development programme with the Grove-based team.

"It wasn't a test," Williams spokesperson clarified to Motorsport.com. "Lance has spent time in the Williams simulator configured to an F3 car designed to help him with the Euro F3 season.

"Stroll has also now moved into some work experiencing an older spec F1 car, a Williams FW36 in between his F3 racing."

Further to this, Stroll's spokesperson added: "Part of the work [Williams development programme] includes giving him some time in an old F1 car to prepare him for the differing performance a Formula 1 car gives.

"However, Lance remains fully committed to his F3 programme and ultimately on winning the title, hopefully therefore any track days have been designed to fit around this."

The Williams development driver currently leads the F3 standings with nine wins to his name, leading Prema teammate Maximilian Gunther by 68 points with two rounds remaining.