Lando Norris Triumphs at Monaco GP Amid Driver Frustrations

Lando Norris clinched his second win of the 2025 Formula 1 season at the Monaco Grand Prix, turning his pole position into a commanding race victory. The McLaren driver led from start to finish on a day when all drivers faced a new challenge: two mandatory pit stops at the tight and tricky Monte Carlo circuit. Read more about the two mandatory pit stops.

Charles Leclerc finished second for Ferrari, while Norris’ teammate Oscar Piastri completed the podium in third, giving McLaren a strong result in the championship fight. For more on Ferrari’s performance in Monaco, you can explore the FIA’s official race report.

The race began with Leclerc making an aggressive attempt to take the lead, drawing alongside Norris into the first turn. Norris locked up but held his position in front. More details on Leclerc and Ferrari at Monaco provide deeper insight into his challenge.

The event’s rhythm was quickly interrupted by a virtual safety car after Gabriel Bortoleto crashed at Turn 8. Early pit stops by several midfield drivers shuffled the order. For a deeper understanding of safety car procedures, refer to the Formula 1 official regulations.

Pierre Gasly, Yuki Tsunoda, and Oliver Bearman all took advantage of the yellow flag period for a first stop, but not all of them benefited, as Gasly later collided with Tsunoda, damaging his Alpine and forcing a slow trip back to the pits. The incident involving Gasly is covered extensively in the Gasly football Monaco article.

Strategic moves played a key part, with teams orchestrating the pace of their drivers to allow teammates a gap to pit and avoid getting stuck in traffic. Isack Hadjar’s team used this tactic perfectly, with Liam Lawson backing off to create a pit window.

The leaders started their stops around lap 20, as Hamilton, Norris, and Piastri pitted one after the other. Lewis Hamilton had a slow stop, which removed any chance of getting past Leclerc.

Max Verstappen was the last of the top group to stop, staying out until lap 28, but rejoining in the same net position.

As the race unfolded, the mandatory two-stop rule failed to create the excitement many expected. Instead of close battles, large gaps opened up in the field. For insights into race strategies, check out MIT’s Motorsports Analytics research.

Some drivers, including George Russell and Alex Albon, slowed down purposely as part of their team’s strategies. This allowed their teammates to pit and rejoin without losing time, further stretching the time gaps between groups of cars.

Such tactics led to driver frustration, with post-race comments hinting at growing concerns over in-race games affecting the spirit of competition.

Mechanical issues and retirements added some drama. Fernando Alonso was forced out with power problems near the halfway point, while George Russell received a penalty for overtaking Albon off the track and was handed a drive-through.

In the late stages, Verstappen attempted to extend his stint, aiming for a possible safety car to shake up the order, but this gamble didn’t pay off. Norris, Leclerc, and Piastri finished well clear of the rest, with Verstappen coming home in fourth.

After 78 laps, Norris crossed the line for McLaren’s second win of the season and his career’s third. Hamilton finished fifth, ahead of rookie Hadjar, who took his best result so far in sixth.

Esteban Ocon gave Haas something to celebrate in seventh, while Williams duo Albon and Carlos Sainz both scored, helping their team to another double-points finish. Liam Lawson took eighth for the Racing Bulls, rounding out the top ten.

In the championship, Oscar Piastri continues to lead with 161 points, just ahead of Norris on 158. Verstappen is third with 136 points, and George Russell holds fourth on 99.

For the teams, McLaren sits on top with 319 points, putting clear distance between themselves and Mercedes, Red Bull, and Ferrari. The next event is the Spanish Grand Prix on June 1, where teams will look to fight back and adjust their strategies.

Norris’ win brings the title contest closer as teams prepare for the heat of the summer stretch.