Lando Norris has admitted responsibility for the strategy gamble that ended in disaster for McLaren during a frustrating Canadian Grand Prix weekend, with the British driver conceding that the team made the wrong tyre call under difficult conditions in Montreal.
The reigning world champion endured a nightmare afternoon at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve after an early strategic decision left McLaren fighting an uphill battle from the opening laps. Norris eventually retired from the race on lap 40 after reporting a gearbox issue over team radio, bringing a disappointing end to what had already become a difficult weekend for the Woking-based outfit.
McLaren drew immediate attention before the race even began after opting to place both Norris and team-mate Oscar Piastri on intermediate tyres while the majority of the grid selected slick compounds. The bold strategy was designed to take advantage of uncertain weather conditions, but the gamble quickly unraveled as the track failed to provide enough moisture for the intermediates to perform effectively.
Speaking after the race, Norris refused to shift the blame onto the pit wall and instead accepted full responsibility for the call.
According to the Briton, the decision to start on intermediates was heavily influenced by his own judgement after observing the changing track conditions before lights out. However, as the race progressed, it became increasingly clear that McLaren had misread the situation compared to their rivals.
The tyre choice immediately compromised the pace of both McLaren drivers, forcing them onto an alternative strategy that left them out of contention for points throughout the race. While other leading teams settled quickly into competitive race rhythm on slick tyres, Norris and Piastri struggled for grip and consistency during the crucial opening stint.
Things went from bad to worse later in the grand prix when Norris reported mechanical trouble. The 26-year-old was instructed to stop the car after identifying a gearbox problem, resulting in his first retirement of the 2026 season.
Piastri also endured a difficult afternoon and crossed the line outside the points, marking a rare double disappointment for McLaren after the team entered the weekend hoping to strengthen their championship challenge.
Despite the setback, Norris remained calm in his post-race assessment, insisting the team would learn from the costly mistake as attention now turns to the next round of the Formula 1 season.