MONTREAL — Lando Norris is putting pressure on Ferrari.
The McLaren Formula One driver claimed Sunday’s Canadian Grand Prix could be anyone’s race, but he believes the Italian team has an advantage after Charles Leclerc won in Monaco two weeks ago.
“I think they’re favorites,” Norris stated Thursday. “I can’t predict whether we, Ferrari, or Red Bull will win. That’s why it’s exciting: none of us truly knows.
McLaren’s Lando Norris Gives Nod To Ferrari As Favorites At Canadian Grand Prix
Red Bull won 21 of 22 races last year, with Max Verstappen serving as the three-time defending season winner. Verstappen achieved a record 19 victories.
This season, Red Bull led the constructors’ championship, but Leclerc’s triumph brought Ferrari within 24 points.
Norris believes Ferrari will have an advantage this weekend, partly due to the importance of curb-riding at the recently resurfaced Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. Leclerc downplayed his favorite talk.
“Everybody doesn’t want to be going into a weekend hearing that they are favorites,” Leclerc stated. “You will never hear me claim that we are the clear favorite this weekend, and the same goes for them, so you must throw the ball to your nearest opponents.
“It might not be the true picture once we hit the track, the reality is we are so closely matched between those three teams.”
McLaren’s Lando Norris Gives Nod To Ferrari As Favorites At Canadian Grand Prix
Verstappen now leads Leclerc by 31 points in the drivers’ championship. Norris trails Leclerc by 25 points, equivalent to one race win.
However, three drivers from three teams — Norris, Leclerc, and Verstappen — have won the last three races for the first time since 2021.
Verstappen won his second consecutive Canadian Grand Prix last season, part of a record 10-race winning streak.
“I’m not concerned with what others are doing because it’s a waste of time and energy,” the 26-year-old Dutchman stated. “We know that from our side, there are things that we can do better and that’s what we’ll focus on.”
McLaren’s Lando Norris Gives Nod To Ferrari As Favorites At Canadian Grand Prix
While Ferrari looks to excel on courses with a lot of curb-riding, Red Bull has had the opposite experience. Verstappen called Monaco, where he finished sixth, and Red Bull colleague Sergio Perez did not finish, as a reminder.
“We are aware of this issue, but we have yet to resolve it. “I believe that after Monaco, it gave us another wake-up call,” Verstappen stated. “With everyone catching up, naturally, you can’t rely on your advantage anymore even though your curb-riding is bad.”
SOURCE – (AP)
