MONACO (AP) – Randnoris fulfilled his childhood aspiration by clinching victory at the Monaco Grand Prix on Sunday, boosting his ambitions for a Formula 1 championship title.
This marked Norris’s first Grand Prix win since the commencement of the Australian Grand Prix season. Additionally, he achieved victory in the Sprint race in Miami earlier this month, shrinking the point lead of his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri from 13 to just 3 points.
From pole position, Norris struggled initially, locking his wheels at the first corner, yet he managed to fend off last year’s winner, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.
“It’s incredible. It’s a long and challenging race, but it’s exhilarating,” Norris stated. “This is what I’ve aspired to since childhood.”
Leclerc finished second after coming close to passing Norris in the latter stages of the race, while Piastri secured third, reigning champion Max Verstappen took fourth, and seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton rounded out the top five in fifth.
Verstappen’s Strategy
Verstappen held the lead until the second lap, as he had yet to complete the mandatory second pit stop introduced to invigorate the Monaco Grand Prix, notorious for its difficulty in overtaking.
As it stood, Verstappen was almost certain to finish fourth regardless of when he pitted, which allowed him to decelerate and slow Norris, enabling Leclerc and Piastri to close the gap. It appeared Verstappen was attempting to pressure Norris into mistakes or hoping for a red flag to create opportunities for free tire changes while maintaining his lead.
In the aftermath, Norris reflected, “I felt nervous with Charles closing in, and Max right behind, but winning at Monaco means everything, so I won’t complain.”
Despite unpredictable forecasts, some teams and drivers defied expectations, with the rules having minimal impact on the overall results, except for instances where teams intentionally slowed one car to assist teammates.
Leclerc lamented, “I lost this race yesterday,” emphasizing the crucial role of qualifying at his home race in Monaco.
Creating Legacy with McLaren
This victory marked McLaren’s historic 16th win in Monaco, the first since Lewis Hamilton’s triumph in 2008, the year he claimed his first championship.
Departing Monaco, McLaren boasts six wins from the first eight races of 2025, with both drivers fiercely contending for the title. Even with a third of the season completed, the team’s total of 319 points eclipses that of all other competitors combined, securing McLaren a likely second consecutive Constructors’ Championship.
Piastri’s consistent podium placements over two years at Monaco highlight his progress; a year ago, he finished second—his third career podium—without a Grand Prix win. Now, he has registered his seventh podium finish.
“If this is considered a bad weekend,” Piastri stated, “it certainly isn’t going poorly.”
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Source: apnews.com