Norris Struggles in Qualifying for Canadian GP
Lando Norris faced a challenging qualifying session at the Canadian Grand Prix, securing only seventh position at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve due to "a couple of big mistakes." The McLaren driver hit the wall on his final lap and acknowledged that these errors hindered his performance.
Norris’ teammate, Oscar Piastri, qualified impressively in third, trailing only Max Verstappen of Red Bull, who took pole, and George Russell of Mercedes. This qualifying result puts Norris 10 points behind Piastri in the championship standings.
Reflecting on the session, Norris stated, “We’ve clearly not been as quick as normal… The low grip and heavy kerb use here just hurt us more than it seems to affect others.” Despite the team’s strong season overall, where McLaren leads the Constructors’ Championship by a significant 197 points, today’s performance highlights the impact of circuit-specific challenges on car setup.
Norris indicated a cautious outlook for the race, saying, “I think a podium’s tough… We’re not as confident as in other places, but still confident we can go forwards.” He suggested that the race could be strategic in terms of pit stops, depending on tire behavior.
With McLaren’s recent performance, Norris aims to close the gap in the championship while navigating the unique difficulties presented by the Montreal circuit.
