McLaren defends 'right' intermediate tyre call at Canadian GP

McLaren boss Andrea Stella has strongly defended the team's decision to start both cars on intermediate tyres at the Canadian Grand Prix. From the second row, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri were the only leading contenders to choose wet rubber as late rain fell in Montreal. The call gave Norris the lead off the line after two extra formation laps, but Piastri radioed for slicks before the race even started. He eventually pitted and finished 11th after a collision penalty, while Norris retired with a suspected gearbox failure.

Why it matters:

McLaren's aggressive tyre strategy could have paid off if the rain had lingered. The decision highlights the fine margins in F1, where a single weather shift or procedural delay can flip a bold call from genius to costly error.

The details:

• Stella explained the call was made operationally five minutes before the start, when the track was greasy and raining.
• The rain stopped rapidly, and an unusual double formation lap further dried the track, penalizing the inters.
• "We were a bit unlucky with the rain stopping and the double extra formation lap," Stella told media. "At the time, the conditions existed to fit the intermediate tyre. It changed very rapidly."
• The decision was shared by drivers and team — Norris initially gained, but Piastri's early instinct for slicks proved correct.

Looking ahead:

Stella emphasized judging decisions based on the available data at the moment, not outcomes. McLaren will likely review their wet-weather communication protocols, but the underlying confidence in their strategic process remains intact.