Lando Norris has defended McLaren’s decision to start the Canadian Grand Prix on intermediate tyres, insisting that “there were valid reasons” behind the call.
Following a period of light drizzle ahead of the race and cool temperatures, McLaren opted to start both Norris and Oscar Piastri on intermediate tyres, a decision the pair understood after slippery reconnaissance laps.
However, by the formation laps, the circuit had dried, with the majority of the field around them having opted to start on soft tyres.
Both Norris and Piastri immediately recognised the mistake that had been made and, despite Norris taking the lead into the first corner, the reigning world champion pitted for slick tyres at the end of the second lap. Piastri stopped at the end of the opening lap.
The incorrect decision ended McLaren’s hopes of a podium finish or even a strong points haul, with Norris’ recovery drive later ending in retirement following a technical issue on his MCL40.
While the Briton acknowledges that the “wrong decision” was made, he has backed the team for committing to its strategy of starting on intermediates and stressed that no “bad decision-making” was involved.
Asked when he realised intermediate tyres were the wrong decision, Norris told select media, including ApexF1News: “Probably just on the warm-up lap. I think the rain had 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, you know, things so easily could have happened behind, and I would have looked much better. But it was the wrong decision in the end.
“I don’t think it came through any bad decision-making. I think there were valid reasons for doing what we did.
“I’m happy we kind of went for something and stuck to it. It doesn’t work out sometimes — that’s the way it is. So we take it on the chin and learn from it.”
