Lando Norris, McLaren, Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, 2025

McLaren experienced an unusually difficult pair of practice sessions on Friday in Montreal, said Lando Norris.

He ended the day second-fastest but quickest of those who set their best times on the soft tyre compound. George Russell beat him by two hundredths of a second on the medium rubber.

Norris made a series of minor errors over the two sessions and said the car was particularly tricky to drive this weekend.

“We need to get the car in a better place” he told the official F1 channel. “Everyone’s in the same boat on the track, the track’s difficult, but it’s definitely been our worst Friday of the year so far.

“Maybe not worst in terms of pace but just most difficult to put [a lap] together and most tricky. We’re not miles away, we just need to make it a little bit easier to drive.”

McLaren brought a small upgrade package for this race which was partly aimed at improving the handling of a car Norris has found it difficult to get the best from this year. He said it’s too early to tell how much of an effect they’ve had.

“It’s pretty similar, honestly, but I think it’s hard to say just from one track,” he explained. “I think you have to go to many more.

Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and

“Especially here it’s quite unique with the amount of bumps and kerbs, and the low grip that we have. So it’s a bit too early to tell. But all of the things are aiming to move the car in the right direction and give me more feeling which is a good thing.

“But I would say it’s a tricky day, probably one of the trickiest we’ve had this year. A little bit off the pace compared to some of the others. Maybe it didn’t look it at the end but it was just difficult to put a lap together and be consistent. I did one good lap the whole session so we have some work to do.”

Oscar Piastri, who ended the day sixth, said he has more time to find within himself.

“The new parts have done what we expected them to but hopefully we can find a bit more,” he said. “I think we’ve made a good step from FP1 to FP2 and we just need to try and make the same step again.

“There’s no alarm bells, just trying to get the car in a better window and get me in a better window.”

Miss nothing from RaceFans

Get a daily email with all our latest stories – and nothing else. No marketing, no ads. Sign up here:

Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and

2025 Canadian Grand Prix

Browse all 2025 Canadian Grand Prix articles