Lando Norris produced a near-flawless drive on Sunday to claim victory at the 2025 Monaco Grand Prix, executing a bold two-stop strategy to perfection and snatching the win just a lap before the chequered flag. The McLaren driver converted pole position into his second win of the Formula 1 season, slicing teammate Oscar Piastri’s title lead to a razor-thin margin of just three points.
In a race light on overtakes but heavy on tension, Norris maintained composure under sustained pressure from Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and capitalised on a perfectly timed final pit stop to emerge on top in Monte Carlo — the jewel in F1’s crown.
Verstappen’s Gamble Falls Short
Championship contender Max Verstappen had looked set to pull off a strategic coup after running long on his opening stint. The Red Bull driver took track position and held it deep into the race, but was ultimately forced to pit with just one lap remaining — a move that dropped him from the lead to a disappointing fourth place.
It was a brutal blow for Verstappen, who had bet on a late-race Virtual Safety Car to swing things in his favour. But the timing never came, and the Dutchman was left off the podium and out of luck.
Leclerc’s Podium Near-Miss at Home
Charles Leclerc, cheered on by a raucous home crowd, showed strong pace throughout the Grand Prix but was unable to force a move on either McLaren ahead of him. The Ferrari driver briefly looked set to challenge for the lead after Verstappen backed the field up in the final stint, but ultimately settled for second place on a circuit notorious for its overtaking difficulty.
Piastri, meanwhile, delivered a quietly effective drive to finish third and cling onto his championship lead — but Norris’ victory has well and truly reignited the title fight.
Hamilton, Hadjar and the Midfield Movers
Further down the order, Lewis Hamilton recovered to fifth after starting further back due to a qualifying penalty for impeding Verstappen. The seven-time world champion ran a clean but lonely race, unable to make inroads on the leaders but comfortably ahead of the chasing pack.
Racing Bulls rookie Isack Hadjar continued his stunning debut season with a sixth-place finish, once again outperforming more experienced rivals and cementing his growing reputation as one to watch.
Behind him, Esteban Ocon brought home more points for Haas, finishing ahead of teammate Liam Lawson. Williams also enjoyed a strong afternoon, with Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz both scoring — the latter benefitting from a messy incident that saw Mercedes’ George Russell penalised for an illegal overtake on Albon.
Trouble for Russell, Alonso and Gasly
Russell’s drive-through penalty capped a frustrating weekend for Mercedes, compounded by a late and puzzling pit call that left young Kimi Antonelli trailing home in last place.
Fernando Alonso retired with engine trouble, while Alpine’s Pierre Gasly collided with Yuki Tsunoda in the tunnel — adding more chaos to a turbulent season for the struggling French outfit.
Ollie Bearman showed flashes of pace as he clawed back to 12th after a grid penalty, while Franco Colapinto and Gabriel Bortoleto followed close behind. Bortoleto recovered from contact with Antonelli at Portier, finishing just ahead of a lacklustre Lance Stroll.
Canada Beckons as Title Race Heats Up
With just three points separating the top two and Verstappen still within striking distance, the 2025 Formula 1 championship is finely poised heading into the Canadian Grand Prix. Norris’ late-race heroics in Monaco may have rewritten the momentum — but in a season where strategy has been king, the battle is far from over.