Lando Norris gave the top from the pole position at the tight Formula 1 city course in Monaco and, despite the permanent pressure from local hero Charles Leclerc, won his first victory in the principality. Norris’ team-mate Oscar Piatri defended the lead in the overall World Cup in front of Norris and Verstappen on Sunday (May 25, 2025).
Fourth was on the 78 rounds through the principality world champion Max Verstappen in the Red Bull. Overall, as usual in Monaco, the positioning of the starting line -up changed little. Only in the back of the field was there some movement – to the dismay of Nico Hülkenberg, who in his kick cleaned from 13th place to the 16th and the third last place on that day.
Norris fends off start attack
At the start, Norris got on the Pole position Right under pressure against Leclerc, but the Englishman braked hard into the first curve and held first place. After two phases with the virtual Safety Car the field had sorted out for the first time from 12th of the 78 rounds. But the two compulsory boxing stops that the FIA had introduced for the overtaking city course in Monaco brought in the field at least in phases.
From the top group, world champion Verstappen came to his first stop (round 28). Until then, the Dutch had driven out some time with quick rounds. But it was still not enough to overtake the World Cup leading Piatri in third place. The only one who did a good floor in the first stop phase was routine Lewis Hamilton, who pretended to be in Ferrari from seven to five and also ended the race there.
Mercedes gambles
At the top, Leclerc did not really get on the Pelle at his home Grand Prix Leader Norris, so that the Englishman could control and drive according to the race plan. In contrast, Hülkenberg did not get a good day in the kick. The German -launched German slid back to the middle of the race.
The Mercedes cars had nothing at all with the exit in the front areas. Even after over half of the racing distance, the silver arrows with George Russell and Wunderkind Kimi Antonelli had not yet completed any of their two mandatory stops and also hung behind the two Williams, who kept their back on each other and braked the race in this part of the field. A frustrated Russel therefore overtook by shortening in a harassment and had to go through the pit lane once as a punishment. The strategy paid off for Williams: Carlos Sainz (9th) and Alex Albon (10th) both drove into the points.
Norris even after the second compulsory stop at the front
Before the second pit stop phase, Leclerc managed to build up some pressure on Norris for the first time before the second pit stop phase. The McLaren racing engineers are therefore pokered by the second tire change due to the relatively small distance. Leclerc finally came to the pit lane. The round on it also got his second set of fresh tires.
Lando Norris in the McLaren at the Grand Prix of Monaco 2025.
Norris, Leclerc and Piatri had completed 27 laps before the end. Only world champions stayed outside and pokered on Safety car phases or a demolition scenario. That didn’t come, but it got really dramatic between Norris and Leclerc. The Frenchman drove up on Norris with medium tires and hung from the McLaren at the rear.
Close final phase between Norris and Leclerc
But Norris held against it. AST in formation flight went through the last laps. Piatri also unlocked. The Ferrari had clearly the faster car and Leclerc had to hope that under its continuous pressure Norris would make a mistake on the narrow course.
But that didn’t happen. When Verstappen finally came in to his second stop in the 77th and penultimate round, the Englishman on the Tableau was officially at the forefront again and drove up his second win of the season when the target flag was waned by US actor Patrick Dempsey after the success in the opening racing in Australia. In the overall ranking, the 25-year-old with 158 points ranks only three points behind teammate Piatri (161).