Lando Norris bounced back after admitting that McLaren endured their ‘worst Friday’ of 2025 at the F1 Canadian Grand Prix to set the pace during the final practice session.
The Briton believed his Woking squad endured their worst start to any round in the 2025 F1 season so far in Montreal after struggling to put everything together, despite not being that far off the pace. Norris was 0.028 seconds slower than Mercedes ace George Russell in FP2.
Oscar Piastri was only sixth in the order at the end of FP2, however, and 0.439s off the pace Russell set. The 2025 F1 drivers’ championship leader was also just eighth in FP3, but Norris put a McLaren on top with a 1:11.799 to pip Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc by 0.078s on Saturday.
F1 teams expect McLaren’s ‘Achilles heel’ of rear tyre graining will be a big problem in the Canadian GP
McLaren fitted a front suspension upgrade on Norris’ car for the first day of the Canadian GP weekend this Friday, as well. Piastri elected against running the team’s new front suspension geometry, as he has been more comfortable than Norris with the feeling their MCL39 offers.
READ MORE: Five unforgettable Canadian GP moments including Lewis Hamilton’s blunder
| Position | Drivers’ Championship | Points |
| 1 |
Oscar Piastri |
186 |
| 2 |
Lando Norris |
176 |
| 3 |
Max Verstappen |
137 |
| 4 |
George Russell |
111 |
| 5 |
Charles Leclerc |
94 |
But while Norris has offered McLaren hope at the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve, The Race reports that rival F1 teams expect the papaya crew will face their ‘Achilles heel’ come Sunday’s race. Teams are ‘bracing themselves’ for a major headache with rear tyre graining a huge concern.
McLaren’s tyre cooling has been a major advantage this season, as the MCL39 has let Norris and Piastri keep their temperatures under control. But the cooler-than-normal conditions in Montreal this week, plus the softer tyres Pirelli has provided, should negate McLaren’s edge.
Pirelli also expect rear tyre graining will be the ‘key’ come Sunday’s race after the Italian firm studied the data drawn during Friday’s race simulations. Pirelli’s chief engineer Simone Berra has even warned drivers that they risk a ‘cliff edge’ if they do not manage their rear traction.
Rear tyre graining during the Canadian GP on Sunday would become less of a potential issue for McLaren racers Norris and Piastri if the track temperatures were to increase. But there is little prospect of track temperatures rising enough to help the Briton and the Australian out.
Lando Norris could destroy Oscar Piastri’s 2025 F1 championship lead in Montreal
Norris will certainly hope he can manage his rear tyres throughout Sunday’s 70-lap Canadian GP enough to prevent rear graining. The 25-year-old has the chance to deal a major blow to Piastri’s championship lead this week, with the 24-year-old off his pace throughout practice.
McLaren also saw Norris lead their efforts in FP1, as he secured P7 and Piastri only managed P14. The Australian then remained off the Briton’s times through FP2 and FP3 with plenty of rival drivers also splitting the papaya pals, which might prove massive for the championship.
Martin Brundle believes Norris’ lack of consistency is stopping him from being the 2025 title favourite, with Piastri holding a 10-point advantage prior to the Canadian GP in round 10 of this year’s 24. But that lead may evaporate if enough rival drivers can get in between them.
