Lando Norris fought hard under heavy pressure to secure a fantastic win for McLaren at the Monaco Grand Prix on Sunday. The British driver crossed the finish line 3.131 seconds ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who was the local favorite. Norris’s McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri took third place, making it a strong day for the championship-leading team.
Max Verstappen, the four-time world champion driving for Red Bull, finished fourth, followed by seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton in the second Ferrari. This victory made Norris the first McLaren driver to win in Monaco since Lewis Hamilton did it in 2008, which was also Hamilton’s first championship-winning season. It was Norris’s first Monaco win, his second victory this season, and the sixth win of his career.
French rookie Isack Hadjar impressed by finishing sixth for Red Bull, ahead of Esteban Ocon of Haas, Liam Lawson in the other Red Bull, and Williams drivers Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz.
Lando Norris celebrates a dream come true
Excited after the race, Norris shouted from his car, “Monaco baby, yeah baby!” He said, “It feels amazing. It was a long and tough race. I was nervous until the last corner but we pushed hard and got the win. Winning in Monaco is special—it doesn’t matter how you do it. I’ve realized a dream today.”
A tricky and tactical race from the start
The race started on a bright, dry afternoon with teams choosing different tyre strategies for the mandatory two pit stops. Norris had a strong start from pole position but nearly lost control at Ste Devote corner. He kept his lead despite pressure from Leclerc.
Early on, drivers like Yuki Tsunoda and Pierre Gasly made quick pit stops. A collision between Gasly and Tsunoda caused damage and forced Gasly to retire. This triggered the first virtual safety car (VSC) of the race and shuffled the order.
Teams used clever tactics to slow down rivals and create pit-stop opportunities for teammates. This affected drivers like Hamilton, Lawson, and Sainz, who sacrificed their own races to help teammates by controlling the pace and causing traffic jams.
Lewis Hamilton pitted on lap 18, and Norris followed two laps later, rejoining the race in fourth place. Red Bull’s Hadjar used the team’s strategy well but was still behind.
By lap 30, the top four were Norris, Leclerc, Piastri, and Verstappen, with Hamilton in fifth despite a penalty.
Late race drama and penalties
Hamilton, following team orders, slowed down behind Verstappen to help Leclerc’s second pit stop. Meanwhile, Fernando Alonso retired from the race.
Later, Verstappen led with Norris chasing him, while Leclerc and Piastri fought for the next positions. The race saw controversies when George Russell and Kimi Antonelli cut a chicane to pass a slow Alex Albon. Russell refused to give back his position and was handed a drive-through penalty, making it a frustrating day for Mercedes.
Williams’ team boss James Vowles admitted it was a tough day despite their drivers finishing ninth and tenth.
Max Verstappen tried to stay ahead on worn tyres, hoping for a race stoppage to make an easier pit stop. However, he had to pit on the last lap and ended up finishing fourth, just behind the top three.
