F1 Monaco GP: 5 Must-Know Quick Insights

Lando Norris secured a spirited win at the Monaco Grand Prix, giving his championship campaign a major lift as he closed the gap to teammate Oscar Piastri in the points standings to just three. Norris showed excellent pace all weekend, taking pole position with the fastest lap ever recorded at Monaco—1 minute 9.954 seconds.

This pole was McLaren’s first in Monte Carlo since 2007 and marked Norris’s first grand prix victory since the Australian season opener. With this result, Norris has now taken four wins from pole in his Formula 1 career, including memorable triumphs in Abu Dhabi, Singapore, and the Netherlands.

The introduction of a mandatory two-stop strategy added a new twist to the race. Unlike the processional races of previous years, the event had teams juggling various pit stop tactics. Read more about the mandatory two-stop strategy and its impact.

Drivers stopped as early as the first lap while others waited, creating time gaps and keeping the lead positions up for grabs. These new rules from the FIA and Pirelli made the Monaco GP far less predictable, prompting discussion about whether similar format tweaks could benefit other tracks on the calendar as well. The race earned the nickname of a racing lottery due to these shakeups.

While some called the rule a bit artificial, it brought much-needed excitement to a race that is often decided by qualifying.

In addition to Norris’s strong drive, McLaren’s Oscar Piastri held onto second place, cementing a healthy constructive points haul for the team. Charles Leclerc started from the front row after dominating practice sessions but had to settle for a podium on home soil.

Verstappen, meanwhile, couldn’t crack the top three, facing a tough race and highlighting that even dominant cars can struggle on Monaco’s narrow streets with the restart in tactics.

The event also saw standout performances from younger drivers. Isack Hadjar bounced back from two Friday crashes to qualify in the top six and finish in the points, showing determination after being hard on himself in practice.

Teammate Liam Lawson played a team game, slowing to help Hadjar execute his pit stops. Esteban Ocon delivered what he called one of his best Monaco laps in qualifying and made the most of Haas’s supportive environment, demonstrating how a team switch from Alpine transformed his season.

Mercedes endured a disappointing weekend. Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s Q1 crash ended his session early, and George Russell lost power in Q2, leaving both drivers deep in the field.

The two mandatory stops gave Mercedes a chance to recover, but tactical missteps kept them mired behind a train led by Carlos Sainz’s Williams. Russell’s late bid to pass Alex Albon by cutting the chicane resulted in a drive-through penalty, adding to a race they’ll be eager to forget.

The new strategy rules, the reshuffling of the championship order, and the impressive performances from both rising and established stars made the 2025 Monaco Grand Prix one of the most unpredictable and entertaining editions in years. For more insights into Monaco’s unique racing challenges, check out this analysis by Motorsport Magazine.

With the European swing continuing, all eyes will now be on how teams adapt to changing tactics and whether McLaren can carry this momentum forward in the title fight. For further reading on Formula 1’s evolving strategies, visit the official Formula 1 website.