Lando Norris, the British driver for McLaren, expressed his belief that the team had the potential to win the Canadian Grand Prix of Formula 1 if it weren’t for a costly mistake during his first pit stop. Despite initially holding onto third place, Norris managed to overtake both Max Verstappen and George Russell thanks to his skillful management of the Intermediate Tires. He built a significant lead of almost eight seconds before the Safety Car was deployed due to Logan Sargeant’s Williams stopping on lap 25. Unfortunately, McLaren did not react promptly, causing Norris to lose positions to Verstappen and Russell. By the end of the race, Norris was able to regain second place after Russell made a mistake, securing his fifth podium of the season. However, Norris emphasized that McLaren’s strategic error prevented him from challenging Verstappen for the top spot on the podium. Despite his frustration, Norris acknowledged that finishing in second place was still a positive result considering the circumstances.
Norris rejected the idea that the Safety Car period affected his chances of victory, revealing that McLaren had the opportunity to pit at the same time as his competitors to maintain his lead. He placed the blame on the team for not making the right decision. Norris also supported McLaren’s choice to extend their stint on the Intermediate Tires, which briefly allowed him to regain the lead while his rivals struggled on slick tires. He acknowledged that Russell’s ability to catch up and overtake him was due to his own performance behind the wheel. Norris considered that staying on the Intermediate Tires was the right decision and a wise choice by the team.
