Norris has ‘no idea’ where McLaren stand after going from first in FP1 to last in FP2 during rain-hit Montreal practice

Lando Norris had more questions than answers after a disrupted first practice day at the Canadian Grand Prix that saw him go from the top to the bottom of the timesheets in the space of a few hours.

Norris led the way from Ferrari pair Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc in a wet/dry FP1 session at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, before dropping to 20th and last in a dry/wet FP2 as drivers ran different programmes in the mixed conditions.

FP1: Norris leads Sainz and Leclerc during wet first practice in Canada

Asked after the second session if he felt he had gathered enough data for the weekend ahead, Norris said: “Never enough, but we learned a good amount… Actually, not in the dry. We didn’t learn enough in the dry, to be honest.

“We did the [fewest] laps, I think, out of everyone [in the dry]… Not the best thing with that, but in the wet a good amount, [we’re] in a reasonable place.”

Giving some early thoughts on the potential pecking order, the Briton continued: “At the minute I think we seem a little bit off [the pace]. The Ferraris seem definitely a little bit ahead.

“I don’t know where we are the minute, because the conditions are changing, so whether you do the first lap when the track’s the best, or the last lap when the track’s the best, it changes everything, but I have no idea.”

On the other side of the McLaren garage, Oscar Piastri echoed his team mate’s words as he placed sixth and 16th respectively across the day’s two practice sessions.

FP2: Alonso goes fastest while Verstappen suffers problems during rain-affected second practice in Canada

“I don’t know if enough is the word I would use, but we learnt a couple of things, I guess,” the Australian commented. “[It’s] just tricky to know…

“The track’s been resurfaced, so it was good to see what that’s like. It’s still quite bumpy in a few places, but I think overall it’s preserved the character of the track well, which is nice.

“We looked alright on the inters, [but it’s] hard to know otherwise. We were on the mediums when it was dry, so… It’s difficult to know where we sit, but I think everybody’s got the same question.”

With further rain expected as the weekend wears on, Piastri is not concerned about McLaren’s recent run of strong form in dry conditions coming to an abrupt end.

READ MORE: Verstappen admits first day in Canada ‘not ideal’ as he reacts to FP2 technical issue

“I think it also gives us opportunities,” he added. “I think in the past we’ve generally been good in those kind of conditions, where it’s wet or where it’s quite mixed.

“I think it gives us opportunities as well, but of course, now that we’re fighting at the front in normal conditions, it potentially gives us a bit more to lose and others not as much – but I’m confident that we’ll still be quick no matter the conditions.”

Both Norris and Piastri were called to the stewards post-session for allegedly failing to follow the Race Director’s Event Note regarding escape road instructions at Turn 14, with the former avoiding any further action and the latter receiving a warning.