McLaren’s decision to start Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri on intermediate tires at the Canadian Grand Prix ultimately torpedoed their race. Team Principal Andrea Stella explained the call, stating that five minutes before the start, conditions were greasy and raining, making inters seem like the correct choice to navigate cold track temperatures and get through the initial laps. Norris even briefly led.
However, the rain quickly stopped, and an additional double formation lap further dried the track, turning their tire advantage into a major handicap. Both drivers were forced into early pitstops for slicks. Stella conceded the decision looked wrong in hindsight but insisted it was justifiable given the information available at the time. This costly strategic error highlights the razor-thin margins in F1, where a split-second decision can unravel an entire weekend. McLaren must refine their wet-weather calls if they want to consistently challenge for wins.
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