2025 F1 Monaco GP Starting Grid Shaken by Penalties

Lando Norris will lead the field away from pole at the 2025 F1 Monaco Grand Prix after a close qualifying session. With a lap time just one-tenth faster than Charles Leclerc, Norris secured the top spot as McLaren continues its strong season.

Oscar Piastri, also for McLaren, will start third, having made up lost ground despite an early mistake. Lewis Hamilton initially placed fourth but received a three-place grid penalty for impeding Max Verstappen and is now set to start seventh.

The Monaco qualifying session saw several penalties that changed the starting order. Along with Hamilton’s penalty, Oliver Bearman was handed a ten-place grid drop for a red flag violation.

Lance Stroll faced two separate incidents—one for colliding with Charles Leclerc and another for impeding Pierre Gasly—resulting in grid drops that moved him down to 20th. The FIA’s official rulings left the grid in a provisional state until final confirmation, ensuring a shake-up for Sunday’s race.

The adjusted Monaco Grand Prix starting lineup sees Norris up front, with Leclerc in second and Piastri in third. Max Verstappen moves up into fourth place for Red Bull.

Isack Hadjar lines up fifth, driving for Racing Bulls, followed by Fernando Alonso for Aston Martin. Hamilton, after his penalty, starts from seventh for Ferrari.

Esteban Ocon and Liam Lawson fill eighth and ninth, while Alex Albon for Williams rounds out the top ten.

Attention in Monaco turned to the new two-stop regulation for the race. This rule has increased focus on pit strategy, with each team required to use three mandatory tire sets and carefully choose their compounds.

Soft (C6) tires gave a noticeable advantage in qualifying, but teams must now consider durability over a longer race distance. The streets of Monte Carlo are already known for being tight and unforgiving, making grid position and tire choice even more critical.

Current standings show Oscar Piastri leading the drivers’ championship with 146 points, ahead of Norris at 133 and Verstappen at 124. George Russell holds fourth with 99 points.

On the teams’ front, McLaren leads with 279 points, followed by Mercedes at 147 and Red Bull at 131. Ferrari sits fourth with 114 points, while Williams and Haas are farther back with 51 and 20 points respectively.

McLaren’s performance in Monaco continues its upward trajectory in the 2025 season, but Ferrari remains close behind, and Red Bull is always a threat. Williams made gains with both Sainz and Albon qualifying in the top eleven, while Alpine and Mercedes had to contend with setbacks that affected their final grid slots.

The usual unpredictability of Monaco, paired with grid penalties, leaves the door open for surprises on race day.

With qualifying finished and the starting grid adjusted, all eyes now turn to Sunday’s race. The final grid will be confirmed by the FIA before the formation lap.

As teams finalize their strategies and drivers prepare for the challenge of Monaco’s streets, fans can expect another intense battle in this iconic race. The 2025 Monaco Grand Prix promises high drama from the moment the lights go out.

John Martinez

John Martinez delivers real-time NASCAR Cup Series and Truck Series news, from live race updates to pit-lane strategy analysis. A graduate of the University of Northwestern Ohio’s Motorsports Technology program, he breaks down rule changes, driver tactics, and championship points with crystal-clear reporting.