Norris explains risky tyre gamble that backfired in F1 Canadian GP

Lando Norris says he felt his race was over as early as the warm-up lap after McLaren's started him and teammate Oscar Piastri on the wrong tyres for the Canadian GP.

While most of the grid opted for slick tyres, McLaren gambled on intermediates in the hope that more rain or even an early safety car would play into their hands as other pitted for wet weather tyres.

Initially, the decision appeared inspired. Norris launched off the line, immediately taking the lead and opening a two-second gap by the end of the opening lap. However, without the expected rain and as the circuit rapidly dried, the advantage evaporated, forcing the Briton into an early pit stop that effectively ended his challenge before his race later concluded in retirement.

Norris had fought his way back into the points and was running eighth on lap 40 when his race ended early with a mechanical failure.

Speaking after the race, which was won by Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli, Norris said he suspected the strategy may already have been the wrong call during the formation lap.

"Probably just on the warm-up lap," he said. "I think the rain already stopped a little bit by then, so, yeah, it was the wrong decision in hindsight. Obviously, it was good for a lap and kept me out of trouble, and so easily things could have happened behind, and I would have looked much better, but it was the wrong decision in the end.

Despite the outcome, Norris believed the opening phase of the race proved the intermediates were initially the stronger tyre choice, especially while drivers on slicks struggled for grip on the damp surface.

"I just had a lot more grip, as simple as that, honestly," Norris explained. "It shows how slippery it was for them in the beginning, and I had a two-second gap after one lap, so it wasn't like it was stupid to be on that tyre... It was just drying out, and of course, when they got a bit of temperature into the tyres, it worked out for them.