Norris says “big mistakes” left him seventh in F1 Canadian GP qualifying

Lando Norris admitted he made “a couple of big mistakes” during a disappointing qualifying session for the Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix.

The McLaren driver was only good enough for seventh as he struggled at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal.

Norris, who is 10 points behind championship leader and team-mate Oscar Piastri, bemoaned his luck as McLaren’s pace advantage – evident for much of this season – was wiped out.

Norris was asked about the session, in which Piastri qualified third behind Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and polesitter George Russell of Mercedes.

He said: “A couple of big mistakes. One, hitting the wall on the last lap in the exit of [turn] seven. And the first lap, last corner. Just two mistakes that cost me, I guess.”

Norris believes that McLaren’s inability to pull clear from the chasing pack is track-specific and not helped by the low grip and heavy kerb use in Canada.

“We’ve clearly not been as quick as normal,” said Norris, of his team who lead the constructors’ standings by 197 points.

“I think that’s just because of the layout of the track. The cars are performing relatively well, and I was happy through all the qualifying.

“Maybe not the car to take pole today, but good enough to be up there and fighting for top three.

“I think we can go forwards, but not a lot. It’s not like we’re easy one-two, like we have been on other tracks. It’s going to be a bit more difficult, but anything that can help us will be very welcome.

“It’s just very low grip. That is one of the bigger things. And therefore the car balance just never comes together as much as what it does on other tracks, and some of the kerb-riding and bumps, which just hurts us, it seems, more than some others.”

Norris knows he needs to make up ground on Piastri, and while he is not totally downbeat, he admits a podium is unlikely.

He said: “I think a podium’s tough, just because we don’t have the pace we’ve had in the last few races. But it could be easily a one, two or a three-stop, depending on how the tyres behave. 

“So of course I’ll hope for a bit more to happen, but not as confident as in other places but still confident we can go forwards.”