Lando Norris secured a landmark victory at the Monaco Grand Prix, claiming his first win in the principality and boosting his Formula 1 title hopes. The McLaren driver led from pole position to the finish line, beating Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and teammate Oscar Piastri. Max Verstappen finished fourth, followed by Lewis Hamilton in fifth. With this result, Norris closes to just three points behind championship leader Piastri, while Verstappen now trails by 25 points.
Formula 1’s effort to spice up the Monaco race with a mandatory two-stop pit rule created some strategic interest but did not solve the main issue: overtaking remains nearly impossible on the narrow streets. The race unfolded as a controlled procession with only one illegal move on track when George Russell passed a Williams at the Nouvelle Chicane, earning a drive-through penalty.
Top drivers followed nearly identical strategies. Verstappen attempted to stretch his final stint, hoping for a late safety car, but the gamble failed. Leclerc pushed Norris until the end but could not find a chance to pass.
For Norris, the win was both emotional and crucial. “The best part is that one day my kids can say I won Monaco,” he said. “It’s not just pole or just the race – it was both, and that’s perfect.” This victory marked his first since the season opener and McLaren’s first in Monaco since 2008, when Lewis Hamilton last won there.
Additional points went to Yuki Tsunoda (6th) and Liam Lawson (8th) for Red Bull, Esteban Ocon (7th) for Haas, and Alex Albon (9th) and Carlos Sainz (10th) for Williams. Although the result impacted the championship battle, the race itself did little to change Monaco’s reputation. While visually spectacular and technically demanding, the Grand Prix still struggles to deliver exciting on-track action. The new tyre rule added a layer of complexity but failed to alter the familiar race dynamic.