Lando Norris recently acknowledged the challenges he faced during Qualifying for the Canadian Grand Prix. He finished just 0.151 seconds shy of pole position, highlighting the highly competitive nature of the session.
Norris Reflects on Qualifying Performance
After his impressive double podium finish in Miami, Norris continued to show strong form. During the Canada Sprint, he progressed from third to second place, overtaking Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli and competing closely with race winner George Russell.
Norris utilized McLaren’s latest upgrade package effectively but felt he could not definitively assess whether he could have achieved a better time. He expressed, “It’s always impossible to know. I feel like we did a good job out there today.” He recognized the complexity of the track, noting, “It’s a difficult lap… but I think we did another good job.”
McLaren’s Competitive Edge
Despite his strong performance, Norris admitted, “It’s clear that these guys are just that little bit quicker.” He remains optimistic, saying that closing the gap to Mercedes is a positive sign. His teammate, Oscar Piastri, echoed these sentiments. He matched Norris’s results in Sprint Qualifying, finishing alongside him on the second row.
- Piastri described the session as “not bad” for the team, although he acknowledged the ongoing challenge of competing with Mercedes.
- He stated, “We got closer to Mercedes but not quite enough. We tried our best.”
- Piastri emphasized the importance of pushing further, admitting, “They’ve still got the ultimate pace over us.”
Looking Ahead to the Race
As the race approaches, both drivers prepare for varying weather conditions. Piastri noted, “We’ve not really driven these cars properly in the rain, so it’s going to be an experience one way or another.”
Overall, McLaren demonstrates continued improvement as they aim to challenge the top teams, positioning themselves well heading into the race.
