McLaren faced one of its most challenging practice days of the season at the 2025 Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix, but Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri say there is no cause for concern.
Norris ended FP1 in seventh, with Piastri down in 14th after a challenging start to the weekend.
There were signs of progress in FP2, as Norris climbed to second on the timesheets, while Piastri improved to sixth.
McLaren is one of the few teams to bring upgrades to Montreal this weekend, including a revised front wing first tested at Imola and fully introduced in Barcelona.
But despite the updates, Lando Norris admitted it was one of their most difficult Fridays of the season so far.
“A little bit off the pace comparing to some of the others, and maybe didn’t look it at the end, but just difficult to ever put a lap together and be consistent,” he said.
“I did one good lap the whole session, so, yes, we have some work to do.
“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.”
Following Friday’s sessions, Norris suggested McLaren might consider stepping back from its new upgrade package.
“That’s still something we’re going to discuss now,” he explained.
“[It feels] pretty similar, honestly, but I think it’s hard to say just from one track.
“So, yes, a bit too early to tell, but all of the things are aimed to move the car in the right direction and give me more feeling, which is a good thing.”
Piastri highlights steady improvement despite tricky day
The championship leader echoed a similar sentiment but expressed cautious optimism about the impact of McLaren’s upgrades.
“It definitely ended better than it started,” he said. “But I think still some improvements to try and make.
“It’s been a little bit of a tricky day just trying to find the right window with the car, I think we’re getting there, but we still need to find a bit more.
“I think the new parts have done what we expected them to, but hopefully we can find a bit more.
Piastri emphasised the need to find the right setup window while urging calm, stressing there’s no reason to panic just yet.
He added: “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.”
McLaren has often thrived in the final FP3 session, delivering blistering lap times, showcasing why the Woking-based outfit has been on top in 2025.
READ MORE – McLaren introduces revised front wing for F1 Canadian GP
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