Canadian GP: Lando Norris admits ‘too many mistakes’ in qualifying setback as Oscar Piastri turns tables | F1 News
Lando Norris admitted that he had made “too many mistakes” after qualifying seventh for the Grand Prix of Canada, four places behind the teammate at the top of the title Oscar Piastri.
Norris will start the Sunday race from his second weakest grid penalty of the season, because, not for the first time this year, a promising start of qualification gave way to expensive mistakes when it mattered most in the third quarter.
The Briton destroyed his first Tour attempt in the final phase running directly during the final chicane, before hitting Turn Seven’s wall in his last round.
“Not ideal,” admitted Norris, who drags Piastri by 10 points in the world championship, to Sky Sports F1.
“Just too many mistakes. I hit the wall in the last lap.
“I trusted, the car felt good today, I just made too many mistakes.”
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Highlights of the qualifications of the Grand Prix of Canada
While the Gilles Villeneuve circuit is a track on which the overtaking is possible with a faster car, Norris admits that the championship leaders do not appreciate their usual advantage around the difficult wall track.
Asked about the rhythm of McLaren’s race, he said: “It looked good, but it’s not as good as Max [Verstappen, who start on the front row].
“We clearly do not have our advantage around this track compared to normal, it is much more a track where you just need very good driving and the ability to take borders and bumps and very low adhesion.
“It’s always good, the car was fast. Maybe the average tire was a little faster at the end of the qualifications. I think our pace is quite good, it’s just that I’m a little too far back.”
Piatri advantage – but McLaren is ready for “damage limitation”
As a frustrating way for Norris, Q3 is the only session so far this weekend when it has been overwhelmed by Piastri.
The Australian had been the one who made more mistakes around his Gilles Villeneuve circuit until that time, especially in the final training when he marked the sadly famous champions wall in an incident which had seemed to damage the rear suspension of his MCL39.
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Oscar Piastri calls the first red flag during Saturday training after hitting the Champions Wall in Montreal
Indeed, Piastri admitted that his three training sessions had been “quite miserable”. Given this preparation, Piastri – who chose to manage the old before McLaren suspension arrangement with his teammate on the new – was satisfied to always qualify at the forefront of the network.
“After the way the practice took place, I am quite happy with myself. A great turnaround,” he said.
“It was always the question, do we want the means or the sweet for the Q3? We went with the sweet because we had a lot of problems and we wanted to keep things consistent.
“I’m pretty happy with the third, which is a little different this year, but I’m going to take it.”
Piastri begins able to increase his leader on Norris, although his prospects for winning a sixth victory of the season are less clear in the third.
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George Russell stops Max Verstappen’s position to take the post in Montreal.
When asked if he could face the first row duo of Russell and Verstappen, Piastri replied: “I think yes.
“Our pace on racing days is generally the place where we are strong. These two next to me were very fast in the race yesterday, so it will certainly not be a victory of the Slam Dunk, but I think that we are definitively in the fight.”
McLaren was only beaten twice during the first prize for the Nine Grands Grands of the season – by Verstappen from Red Bull to Suzuka and Imola – but Sunday is the first time that they will start without a car in the front row.
The director of the Andrea Stella team said Sky Sports F1: “The image changes completely for the race, that’s what we need to focus on.
“I think that in terms of racing rhythm, we should be a little more comfortable, but let’s see.
“This weekend could be that of limiting damage.”
Canadian Sky Sports F1 schedule
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A look at some of the most dramatic moments in the Canada Grand Prix
Sunday June 15
3:50 p.m.: F1 Academy Race three
5.30 p.m.: Grand Prix Sunday: Canadian GP Build-Up *
7 p.m.: The Canadian Grand Prix *
9 p.m.: Damy flag: GP Canadian reaction
10 p.m.: Ted’s notebook
* Also on the main event of Sky Sports
The Formula 1 2025 season resumes live Sky Sports F1 With the Canadian Grand Prix this weekend. Stream Sky Sports with now – no contract, cancel at any time.
