Norris delivers pole-winning lap at Monaco
Lando Norris secured a career-first pole at the Monaco Grand Prix with a record-breaking lap of 1:09.954. The McLaren driver outpaced Charles Leclerc and Oscar Piastri in a tense qualifying session. Norris improved his time multiple times in Q3 after holding provisional pole from the first flying laps.
Leclerc briefly topped the timesheet before Norris regained the lead. Norris became the only driver to break the 1:10 barrier, finishing 0.109 seconds ahead of Leclerc. Piastri followed 0.066 seconds behind Leclerc, locking out the top three for McLaren and Ferrari.
McLaren’s strategy pays off
Both McLaren drivers managed two flying laps at the end of Q3. The team’s strategic timing helped them maximise grip and tyre performance. Norris delivered clean sectors to edge ahead in the final minutes.
Piastri’s strong showing gave McLaren a strategic advantage for Sunday’s 78-lap race. Norris’ pole marked a major turnaround after recent qualifying struggles.
Ferrari secures second-row grid
Charles Leclerc qualified second, narrowly missing out on his home pole. Lewis Hamilton placed fourth, recovering from a practice crash. Ferrari’s presence on the second row sets up an aggressive race start.
Hamilton is under investigation for an impeding incident involving Max Verstappen in Q1. The result could affect Ferrari’s grid positions depending on the outcome.
Verstappen and Hadjar complete top six
Max Verstappen qualified fifth for Red Bull. He struggled to extract maximum pace from the car late in Q3. Isack Hadjar impressed for Racing Bulls, putting in a sixth-fastest lap ahead of multiple established drivers.
Hadjar’s performance earned praise from his team after outpacing both team-mates and top-tier rivals.
Top 5 Qualifying results at the Monaco Grand Prix 2025
Alonso and Ocon hold midfield ground
Fernando Alonso placed seventh in his Aston Martin, maintaining competitive pace across all three sessions. Esteban Ocon delivered Haas a top-eight finish, continuing the team’s upward trajectory in recent races.
Liam Lawson took ninth for Racing Bulls, showing consistency across all qualifying segments. Alex Albon rounded out the top ten with a solid performance for Williams.
Mercedes face reliability setbacks
Mercedes endured one of its toughest qualifying sessions of the season. Rookie Kimi Antonelli crashed out at the harbourside chicane during Q1. His crash interrupted several drivers’ final flying laps.
George Russell progressed to Q2 but stopped in the tunnel due to a suspected electrical failure. He clipped the kerb at Ste Devote before losing power. Russell qualified 14th, while Antonelli starts 15th.
Sainz and Tsunoda miss Q3
Carlos Sainz could not join his Ferrari team-mate in Q3. He reported poor grip on his final Q2 run and settled for 11th. Yuki Tsunoda took 12th after failing to find extra pace in Red Bull machinery.
Nico Hulkenberg qualified 13th after making the most of a disrupted Q2 session. He took advantage of Russell’s early retirement and Antonelli’s crash.
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Q1 exits and grid penalties
Gabriel Bortoleto missed out on Q2 in his Kick Sauber. Ollie Bearman failed to make Q2 for Haas. Lance Stroll placed outside the top 15 in his Aston Martin.
Alpine drivers Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto also dropped out in Q1, struggling with car balance and tyre performance.
Bearman faces a 10-place grid drop for a red flag infringement during Friday’s practice. Stroll will drop one place due to a penalty for a collision with Leclerc in FP1.
New race regulation adds unpredictability
The Monaco GP will introduce a new mandatory two-stop rule for the first time. lando Teams must complete two tyre changes during the 78-lap race. The regulation could force teams to lando rethink strategies and tyre management.
Track position remains crucial at Monaco due to lando limited overtaking opportunities. Strategy will likely play a significant role in deciding the winner.
Monaco GP Qualifying Top 10:
- Lando Norris – McLaren
- Charles Leclerc – Ferrari
- Oscar Piastri – McLaren
- Lewis Hamilton – Ferrari
- Max Verstappen – Red Bull
- Isack Hadjar – Racing Bulls
- Fernando Alonso – Aston Martin
- Esteban Ocon – Haas
- Liam Lawson – Racing Bulls
- Alex Albon – Williams
McLaren and Ferrari will lead the grid lando on Sunday, with both teams eyeing a strategic edge lando under the new race format.
