By James Broughton, June 17, 2025
Lando Norris has received significant attention following the Canadian Grand Prix. The McLaren driver crashed out of contention for a strong points finish after recovering from an error-prone qualifying session that saw him start Sunday’s race from seventh on the grid.
Unlike recent weekends, McLaren didn’t dominate the Grand Prix, but in the closing stages, Norris found himself battling teammate Oscar Piastri for fourth place. The initial exchanges were clean, precise, and fair. With fresher tyres and generally stronger pace, Norris appeared to have the upper hand.
On lap 63, coming out of the final corner, Norris got a better exit and picked up a slipstream from Piastri along the main straight. There are typically two lines available leading into Turn 1: the optimal racing line and a tactical defensive line that hugs the pit wall on the start/finish straight.
Piastri clearly opted for the defensive line, which he had every right to do since Norris was still behind. For reasons unclear, Norris chose to follow Piastri—perhaps hoping to benefit from the aerodynamic tow and attempt a late move into Turn 1.
Strength, Honour And Weaknesses
Instead, Norris was drawn into going for a gap that simply didn’t exist. With barely half a car’s width available, he effectively drove himself into the pit wall at considerable speed. The impact destroyed his left front suspension and forced him to retire from the race.
Perhaps Norris was attempting a bold, “hero” move to gain a psychological edge over his teammate. Either way, he was in a stronger position than Piastri, who had struggled for pace throughout the weekend.
Ultimately, Canada highlighted both Norris’s strengths and lingering weaknesses—his speed and racecraft are undeniable, but in critical moments, small mistakes continue to cost him dearly. To make matters worse, race stewards deemed Norris responsible for the collision and handed him a five-second penalty to be served at the next race.
What can Norris do to rectify and reduce the number of errors? He seems to be following a pattern from last season, where small mistakes cost him valuable championship points. In crucial moments, he appears to tighten up—whether it’s braking too late or misjudging a manoeuvre.
Even the likes of Hamilton and Verstappen make occasional errors, but they have the mindset to quickly acknowledge and correct them in real time, allowing them to move on without letting the mistake define their race. That mentality is either something you have or you don’t. It’s not something that can be taught—it’s an instinctive, deeply ingrained trait found in true champions.