Canadian Grand Prix: McLaren's Lando Norris Favours Ferrari, Charles Leclerc Expresses Doubt

Lando Norris is putting the pressure on Ferrari. (More Motorsport News)

The McLaren Formula 1 driver said the Canadian Grand Prix could be anyone's race Sunday, but he's giving the edge to the Italian team after Charles Leclerc's victory two weeks ago in Monaco.

바카라�I think they're favorites,바카라� Norris said Thursday.

바카라�It's impossible for me to say if it's going to be us, Ferrari or Red Bull on top. That's why it's exciting, because none of us really know.바카라�

Led by three-time defending season champion Max Verstappen, Red Bull won 21 of 22 races last year. Verstappen had a record 19 victories.

Red Bull tops the constructors' championship this season, but Leclerc's victory helped Ferrari move within 24 points.

Norris thinks Ferrari could have the upper hand again this weekend, partially because curb-riding is such a factor at recently resurfaced Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. Leclerc downplayed the favorite talk.

바카라�Everybody doesn't want to be going into a weekend hearing that they are favorites,바카라� Leclerc said.

바카라�You're never going to hear me (say) we are 100% the favorite this weekend and the same for them, so you've got to throw the ball to your closest opponents.

바카라�It might not be the true picture once we hit the track, the reality is we are so closely matched between those three teams.바카라�

Verstappen has a 31-point lead over Leclerc in the drivers' championship. Norris trails Leclerc by 25 points, equal to one race win.

But three drivers from three teams 바카라� Norris, Leclerc and Verstappen 바카라� have won the last three races for the first time since 2021.

Last season, Verstappen won his second consecutive Canadian Grand Prix amid a run of a record 10 straight victories.

바카라�I'm not focused on what the others are doing because that's just a waste of time and energy,바카라� the 26-year-old Dutchman said.

"We know that from our side, there are things that we can do better and that's what we'll focus on.바카라�

While Ferrari appears to thrive on courses where curb-riding is a big factor, the opposite has been true for Red Bull. Verstappen called Monaco, where he finished sixth and Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez did not finish, a reminder of that.

바카라�This is something that we know, and we haven't been able to fix it yet. I do think that after Monaco, it gave us another wake-up call,바카라� Verstappen said.

바카라�With everyone catching up, naturally, you can't rely on your advantage anymore even though your curb-riding is bad.바카라�