Lando Norris Blasts McLaren Strategy After Narrow Defeat in Thrilling Canadian Grand Prix
Lando Norris didn’t mince words following his second-place finish at the Canadian Grand Prix, expressing frustration over McLaren’s strategic missteps that he believes cost him a very possible victory. As the 24-year-old Brit navigated his McLaren to a commendable podium finish just behind Max Verstappen, the race was punctuated by intense moments and decisions that left Norris incredulous.
Norris led the race by lap 25 when the first safety car emerged to clear Logan Sargeant’s disabled vehicle. While his competitors seized the moment to dive into the pits, McLaren opted to keep Norris on track. This decision quickly proved costly, resulting in him slipping to third just two laps later, eventually climbing back to second but never reclaiming the lead. ''We should have won the race today and we didn’t,” Norris lamented post-race. “It’s frustrating because we had the pace. We didn’t do a good enough job as a team to pit when we should have and avoid getting stuck behind the safety car.''
The young driver’s candid reflection highlights the razor-thin margins that dictate the results in Formula 1. ''This was just making a wrong call, it's on me and it's on the team, it's something we'll discuss after,” he continued. ''We should have won today. We’re at a level now where we’re not satisfied with second; the target is to win.''
In another strategic divergence, McLaren chose to extend their stint on intermediate tires for two additional laps compared to rivals Mercedes and Red Bull. On this call, however, Norris felt the team made the right decision, stating, ''Staying out on the intermediates helped me, it gave me a chance against George [Russell]. I just didn’t do a good enough job afterward in the dry. That was completely the right call and a good decision from us to stay out. It was the first safety car... we had enough time to box, we didn’t box. It was a mistake from us as a team.''
Despite the frustrations, Norris's downbeat comments were cushioned by the fact that he managed to overcut Mercedes' George Russell, maintaining pressure on Verstappen and ultimately securing the second spot on the podium. Verstappen, for his part, clinched his third consecutive Canadian GP win, further extending his lead in the drivers' standings. Russell rounded out the podium, adding another feather to Mercedes' cap. In a twist, the usually dominant Ferrari had a dismal outing, with both Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc retiring from the race, shifting dynamics within the overall championship.
As the paddock continues to buzz about the upswing in performance from Russell and Lewis Hamilton, Russell himself reflected on Red Bull’s recent struggles. ''It’s no secret Red Bull has struggled these last three races,” he noted. “But this pace increase we’ve seen this weekend hasn’t been a surprise to us. We've been seeing the numbers back at the factory.''
Consequently, Norris’s solid performance helped him narrow the gap to Ferrari’s Leclerc in the drivers' standings, closing in to just seven points as the championship heads next to Barcelona. At the pinnacle, Verstappen’s dominant run has seen him stretch his advantage to 56 points over Leclerc, signaling an uphill battle for any contenders seeking to dethrone the current champion.
The Canadian Grand Prix has once again delivered a spectacle rife with strategic gambles, racing brilliance, and the ever-present what-ifs that make Formula 1 a sport of mesmerizing unpredictability. For Norris and McLaren, it’s a lesson learned, albeit a bitter one, as they regroup and set their sights on future victories.