Norris details crucial factor behind missed Canada victory

Lando Norris has revealed a key factor behind missing out on a trip to the top step of the podium at the Canadian Grand Prix.

Norris was running in third place in the opening phase of the race before applying pressure to the leading duo of George Russell and Max Verstappen.

Across back-to-back laps, Norris overtook the front-running duo to move to the lead of the race.

However, when a Safety Car was called on lap 25, McLaren reacted later than its rivals regarding making a pit stop and swapping to a new set of Intermediate tyres.

After pitting the following lap, Norris emerged behind Verstappen and Russell and would go on to finish ahead of the Mercedes driver after overcutting him when the track transitioned to dry conditions.

“Staying out on the Intermediate helped me,” Norris told media including RacingNews365.

“It helped me have a chance against George, so I overcut him. I didn't do a good enough job afterwards, and he was clearly way quicker than us in the dry and even on the Hard tyres.”

Norris admits late pit stop cost victory

Norris conceded that not pitting under the first safety car on the same laps as his rivals likely cost him his second win of the season.

“So, no, that was completely the right call and a good decision from us to stay out.

“It gave me a lot of lap time, but... And it's not the timing of the first Safety Car. 

“I had enough time to box and we didn't box. So this was a mistake on us as a team. And yeah, just something we didn't do a good enough job with.

“I don't think it was a luck or unlucky kind of thing. I don't think it was the same as Miami. This was just making a wrong call. 

“So, it's on me and it's on the team and it's something we'll discuss after. We should have won today. I think we're at a level now where we're not satisfied with a second, like the target is to win. 

“And we didn't do that. So, frustrating, but a tough race and still to end up in second when it could always finish and could be worse is still a good result.”