Sourced: www.formula1.com
Starting from pole, Lando Norris controlled the races but faced relentless pressure from Charles Leclerc, who was eager to win at home. Oscar Piastri, running third, attempted an undercut strategy but a slow pit stop cost him valuable time. Leclerc pushed hard in the final laps but Norris defended brilliantly to claim his first Monaco Grand Prix victory.
The new regulation required drivers to make two mandatory pit stops using at least three different set of tyres. This led to strategic gambles with teams adjusting their plans based on track position and tyre degradation. While the rule aimed to increase overtaking opportunities, the top four retained their positions showing how difficult passing remains in Monaco.
Max Verstappen led for most of the race, running a long first stint on hard tyres. Red Bull delayed his second stop hoping for a safety car or red flag but the gamble didn’t pay off. Verstappen pitted on the penultimate lap, dropping to fourth missing out on a podium finish.
Norris controlled the race from pole, expertly managing the mandatory two stop strategy to claim his first Monaco victory. Piastri secured third ensuring McLaren’s double podium finish keeping the title fight alive between the team mates. McLaren now leads the Constructors’ Championship with 319 points extending their advantage over Mercedes and Red Bull.
Leclerc pushed Norris hard, particularly in the closing laps but was unable to find a way past on the tight Monaco streets. Ferrari’s improved performance was credited to their ability to handle bumps and kerbs helping them close the gap to McLaren. Leclerc finished second marking Ferrari’s best result of the season but admitted frustration at missing out on victory at his home race.
Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll delivered strong qualifying performances but struggled with race execution, limiting their points haul. Williams impressed with Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz both finishing in the top 10 showcasing strategic excellence. Racing Bulls’ Isack Hadjar also delivered a standout midfield performance, finishing sixth.
Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – 161 points |
McLaren – 319 points |
Lando Norris (McLaren) – 158 points |
Mercedes – 147 points |
Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – 136 points |
Red Bull – 143 points |
George Russell (Mercedes) – 99 points |
Ferrari – 142 points |
Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – 79 points |
Williams – 54 points |
Norris’ victory in Monaco cuts Piastri’s championship lead to just three points. Verstappen remains third but his strategy misfire cost him valuable points. McLaren extends its Constructors’ Championship lead solidifying its dominance.
Sourced: www.formula1.com
The mandatory two stop rule was introduced to increase strategy variation but drivers had mixed reactions. Norris criticised the rule saying it rewarded luck rather than race craft. Verstappen admitted Red Bull gambled on a late pit stop hoping for a red flag but it didn’t pay off. Piastri noted that while the rule added tension, it didn’t significantly change the race outcome.
Monaco’s narrow layout and limited overtaking zones made qualifying crucial. Pirelli’s new C6 compound introduced high degradation, forcing teams to carefully manage stints. The long pit lane meant teams had to minimise stops with undercuts proving risky.
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