Formula 1’s 2025 Monaco Grand Prix Race Review
Norris wins from pole as two-stop rule fails to spice up sleepy Monaco
The 2025 Monaco Grand Prix was supposed to be different. A bold new two-stop regulation—mandating drivers to use three different tyre compounds—was introduced in an effort to spice up the notoriously processional race. But in the end, it was Monaco being Monaco.
Despite the new rule, the action remained limited. The narrow streets of Monte Carlo once again proved impossible to overtake on, and drivers instead turned to strategic gamesmanship. Several intentionally slowed their pace to help teammates open pit windows, while others backed rivals into traffic. The outcome? A race defined not by wheel-to-wheel drama, but by frustration, tyre management, and traffic manipulation. Multiple drivers aired their grievances post-race, with some calling the whole affair “dangerously slow” and “a procession by design.”
Still, Lando Norris won’t mind. The McLaren driver delivered a near-flawless weekend, taking pole and controlling the race from the front—his second win of the season and arguably the biggest of his career. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc pushed hard at home but had to settle for second once more, while Oscar Piastri rounded out the podium and retained a slim lead in the Drivers’ Championship.
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2025 Monaco Grand Prix – Qualifying Review
Norris snatches Monte Carlo pole with a historic final lap as Leclerc and Piastri follow close behind
Lando Norris pulled off one of the most dramatic pole laps in Monaco Grand Prix history, producing a blistering 1:09.954 on his final run to beat local hero Charles Leclerc and McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri in a sensational qualifying session around the streets of Monte Carlo.
It marked Norris’ second pole of the season and first in Monaco, and it came just when it looked like Leclerc had done enough to secure a fourth career pole at home. Piastri briefly held provisional pole in Q3 before Norris lit up the timing screens on his second flyer to deliver McLaren’s latest statement of intent.
Q1 – Leclerc sets the pace as Antonelli crashes out
The session began with typical Monaco chaos — 20 cars jostling for space around the tightest track on the calendar. Leclerc set the early benchmark with a 1:11.229, ahead of Piastri and Norris, while Max Verstappen and George Russell slotted in behind.
Drama unfolded when rookie Kimi Antonelli crashed at the Nouvelle Chicane, triggering yellow flags and ending Q1 early with a red flag. That left Bearman, Gasly, Stroll, Colapinto, and Bortoleto knocked out.
Knocked out: Bortoleto, Bearman, Gasly, Stroll, Colapinto
Q2 – Norris shows his hand, Russell stops
Q2 saw a surprise tyre split, with Leclerc, Hamilton, and Albon experimenting with mediums. Norris, sticking to softs, laid down a 1:10.570 to top the session. But Mercedes hit trouble as Russell lost power and stopped in the tunnel, triggering another red flag and ending his session prematurely. Antonelli took no further part following his Q1 crash.
Knocked out: Sainz, Tsunoda, Hulkenberg, Russell, Antonelli
Q3 – Norris delivers under pressure
With the top ten set, Q3 became a three-way showdown between Norris, Leclerc, and Piastri. Piastri went fastest with a 1:10.140, Norris responded with 1:10.125, and then Leclerc lit up the track with a 1:10.063.
But Norris had one more lap left — and he made it count. His 1:09.954 set a new standard around Monaco and sealed a stunning pole ahead of Leclerc and Piastri. Hamilton recovered from a heavy FP3 crash to qualify fourth, while Verstappen struggled to fifth after brushing the wall on his final attempt.
Behind the big five, Isack Hadjar impressed again with P6 for Racing Bulls, followed closely by Alonso, Ocon, Lawson, and Albon — all within 0.3s of each other.
Top 10 – Monaco Grand Prix Qualifying Results
| Pos | Driver | Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lando Norris | McLaren Mercedes | 1:11.285 | 1:10.570 | 1:09.954 |
| 2 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 1:11.229 | 1:10.581 | 1:10.063 |
| 3 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren Mercedes | 1:11.308 | 1:10.858 | 1:10.129 |
| 4 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | 1:11.575 | 1:10.883 | 1:10.382 |
| 5 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT | 1:11.431 | 1:10.875 | 1:10.669 |
| 6 | Isack Hadjar | Racing Bulls Honda RBPT | 1:11.811 | 1:11.040 | 1:10.923 |
| 7 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes | 1:11.674 | 1:11.182 | 1:10.924 |
| 8 | Esteban Ocon | Haas Ferrari | 1:11.839 | 1:11.262 | 1:10.942 |
| 9 | Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls Honda RBPT | 1:11.818 | 1:11.250 | 1:11.129 |
| 10 | Alexander Albon | Williams Mercedes | 1:11.629 | 1:10.732 | 1:11.213 |
2025 Monaco Grand Prix 🏁 Race Summary
Lando Norris takes maiden #MonacoGP win ahead of Charles Leclerc and Oscar Piastri #F1 | Read the race report 👇https://t.co/H35RJKzfP5
— Formula 1 (@F1) May 25, 2025
Starting from pole, Norris held his lead at lights out despite a wild double lock-up into Sainte Devote. Leclerc tucked in behind, chased by Piastri and Verstappen, with the top ten holding formation through the opening lap. But chaos wasn’t far behind.
A Virtual Safety Car was deployed on Lap 2 after Gabriel Bortoleto hit the barriers at Portier following a scrap with Antonelli. He managed to limp back to the pits, while Tsunoda, Bearman, and Gasly took early stops. Two laps later, Gasly collided with Tsunoda in the Nouvelle Chicane, forcing the Frenchman into retirement and drawing exasperation over the radio from both drivers.
At the front, Norris began to stretch his legs, slowly building a gap to Leclerc and Piastri. Behind them, Verstappen launched an alternate strategy—starting on hard tyres and extending deep into the race while others covered off undercuts. Hamilton, meanwhile, made quiet progress from P8 on the grid, eventually climbing into the top five.
McLaren pitted Norris and Piastri in sequence by Lap 22, but a slow stop for the Australian allowed Leclerc to rejoin ahead of him. Verstappen stayed out until Lap 28 and reemerged in fourth, now on mediums, with his final stop still pending.
The battle for the lower points positions brought its own drama. George Russell skipped the Nouvelle Chicane while battling Albon and refused to give back the place, earning a drive-through penalty. Albon and Sainz managed to run clean races for Williams, eventually locking down P9 and P10. Racing Bulls pulled off a brilliant team effort, with Isack Hadjar finishing sixth and Liam Lawson eighth, both on mirrored strategies.
As the final stint began, Verstappen—still yet to make his second stop—led a chasing Norris and Leclerc, with the Red Bull driver tactically backing up the McLaren to bring Leclerc into play. “Max is just backing me up. He’s not even pushing,” Norris radioed in as Leclerc closed in.
On Lap 76 of 78, Verstappen finally boxed, surrendering the lead to Norris. From there, the Brit pulled away, set the fastest lap, and cruised to the line for a hard-fought Monaco victory, followed closely by Leclerc and Piastri. Verstappen came home fourth, while Hamilton capped off a strong recovery with P5.
🏆 Final Classification – 2025 Monaco Grand Prix
| Pos | Driver | Team | Time/Retired | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lando Norris | McLaren Mercedes | 1:40:33.843 | 25 |
| 2 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | +3.131s | 18 |
| 3 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren Mercedes | +3.658s | 15 |
| 4 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT | +20.572s | 12 |
| 5 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | +51.387s | 10 |
| 6 | Isack Hadjar | Racing Bulls Honda RBPT | +1 lap | 8 |
| 7 | Esteban Ocon | Haas Ferrari | +1 lap | 6 |
| 8 | Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls Honda RBPT | +1 lap | 4 |
| 9 | Alexander Albon | Williams Mercedes | +2 laps | 2 |
| 10 | Carlos Sainz | Williams Mercedes | +2 laps | 1 |
| 11 | George Russell | Mercedes | +2 laps | 0 |
| 12 | Oliver Bearman | Haas Ferrari | +2 laps | 0 |
| 13 | Franco Colapinto | Alpine Renault | +2 laps | 0 |
| 14 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Kick Sauber Ferrari | +2 laps | 0 |
| 15 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes | +2 laps | 0 |
| 16 | Nico Hulkenberg | Kick Sauber Ferrari | +2 laps | 0 |
| 17 | Yuki Tsunoda | Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT | +2 laps | 0 |
| 18 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | +3 laps | 0 |
| NC | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes | DNF (Lap 36) | 0 |
| NC | Pierre Gasly | Alpine Renault | DNF (Lap 7) | 0 |
Conclusion
The 2025 Monaco Grand Prix promised more overtaking and less parade. Instead, it delivered the most classic Monaco script: strategic patience, pit stop manipulation, and limited action. The two-stop regulation may have added complexity, but not excitement, leaving both fans and drivers unimpressed.
But there was still a worthy winner. Lando Norris notched his second victory of the year and proved his mettle in the world’s most demanding street circuit. McLaren now boasts two legitimate title contenders, with Piastri and Norris separated by just three points.
Ferrari showed strength but lacked the extra edge, while Red Bull’s gamble didn’t quite deliver. As the paddock packs up and heads to Spain, questions remain about F1’s rule tweaks—but for Norris and McLaren, Monaco 2025 will be remembered as a mission accomplished.
In one week, the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona awaits the Formula 1 circus, and the ever-tightening battle for the driver’s championship will be one of many key points fans can look forward to.
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