McLaren drivers Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris experienced one of their most difficult Fridays of the Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix weekend as the team struggled to find competitive speed in Montreal. Despite being a strong contender earlier this season, McLaren fell behind rivals during Friday’s practice sessions, highlighting challenges ahead in optimizing their car’s performance.

In the early morning practice, Lando Norris placed seventh while Piastri, the championship leader, finished 14th. By the latter FP2 session, Norris improved to second fastest, though Piastri was still only sixth. Teams such as Mercedes, Red Bull, and Williams demonstrated more consistent pace, setting a high bar for McLaren to match as qualifying approaches.

Drivers Reflect on Difficulties in Achieving Consistent Lap Times

Norris described the Montreal circuit as tough and expressed frustration about his inability to string together consistent laps. He admitted that only one strong lap came from his session, making progress challenging. Reflecting on the day, he stated,

“The track’s difficult, but it’s definitely been our worst Friday of the year, I would say, so far. Maybe not worst in terms of pace, but just most difficult to put together and most tricky. So, yes, we’re not miles away, just need to make it a little bit easier to drive.”

—Lando Norris, McLaren

He also suggested that while the car felt broadly similar with the new upgrades, the complexity of Montreal’s unique bumps and low grip conditions made it “a tricky day,” likely one of the toughest the team has faced all season.

McLaren’s New Front Wing Upgrades Under Scrutiny

Unlike many rivals, McLaren brought aerodynamic upgrades to Montreal, including a revised front wing designed to enhance performance over a wide range of driving attitudes. This update featured redesigned primary wing elements and the addition of “mermaid tails” on the endplates aimed at improving the car’s operating window.

The team‘s official technical statement described the changes as,

“A revised front wing geometry aiming at improved aerodynamic performance across a wide range of attitudes, through a redesign of main elements as well as introduction of ‘mermaid tails’ to the front wing endplate.”

—McLaren technical note

After the sessions, Norris noted that the team might reconsider whether to continue with the new components, indicating additional discussions were underway. He remarked,

“That’s still something we’re going to discuss now.”

—Lando Norris, McLaren

He emphasized the early nature of this evaluation given Montreal’s unique characteristics and the need to confirm whether the upgrades provide consistent benefits at future tracks. Still, Norris remains focused on simplifying the car’s handling to produce more predictable and comfortable performance during races.

“It’s just trying to simplify things a little bit, trying to make the car a bit easier to drive and we’ll be there or thereabouts. At the minute, I wouldn’t say we’re quickest, but you never know.”

—Lando Norris, McLaren

Oscar Piastri Sees Progress but Recognizes More Work Is Needed

Oscar Piastri also acknowledged a tough day adapting to the car’s setup but remained optimistic about ongoing improvements. He noted that his performance improved in the second practice session compared to the morning, stating,

“It definitely ended better than it started.”

—Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Piastri highlighted the difficulty in finding the correct operating window for the updated car but was confident the new parts contributed their intended gains. He added,

“I think the new parts have done what we expected them to, but hopefully we can find a bit more. I think we’ve made a good step from FP1 to FP2 and just need to try and make the same step again. No alarm bells, just trying to get the car in a better window and get me in a better window.”

—Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Unexpected Challenges at Montreal Highlight McLaren’s Need for Adaptation

Montreal’s challenging circuit layout, with its distinctive bumps, curbs, and low grip conditions, has exposed some weaknesses in McLaren’s current car configuration. Although the team introduced new aerodynamic parts, their effectiveness remains under evaluation as drivers have struggled to extract consistent lap times in difficult conditions.

With strong performances from rival squads Mercedes, Red Bull, and Williams setting a competitive pace, McLaren faces pressure to refine its approach before qualifying and race day. Norris acknowledged the difficulty in matching these competitors, particularly as Mercedes showed notable speed, but insists the team is not far off.

The outcome of McLaren’s assessment of its new front wing and other upgrades will likely influence tactical decisions for the remainder of the weekend. Both drivers remain focused on making incremental improvements to place McLaren in contention during the Canadian Grand Prix.