McLaren sparked surprise with a daring strategy call at the start of the Monaco Grand Prix on Sunday.
Max Verstappen expressed surprise at McLaren’s decision to start the Canadian Grand Prix on intermediate tyres, as rain had already stopped and the track was drying up before the race. Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri raised concerns over team radio about the wrong tyre choice during the formation lap. Despite briefly leading, both McLaren drivers had to pit early to switch to the medium compound, reshuffling the front of the field. Verstappen even sarcastically thanked McLaren for their decision, which eventually cost them a potential strong result. Race-winner Kimi Antonelli also noted his surprise at McLaren’s gamble, as other teams opted for slick tyres and the track quickly dried up for optimal racing conditions.
