BREAKING: MONACO — Lando Norris held off local favorite Charles Leclerc to win a tense Monaco Grand Prix and claim a vital first w… read more

 

MONACO – Lando Norris secured a crucial victory at the Monaco Grand Prix, narrowly fending off hometown favorite Charles Leclerc to earn his first win since the season opener.

Starting from pole, Norris dominated most of the race, but a late twist came when defending champion Max Verstappen delayed his pit stop until the final lap, tightening the gap and setting  Lando Norris secured a crucial victory at the Monaco Grand Prix, narrowly fending off hometown favorite Charles Leclerc to earn his first win since the season opener.

Starting from pole, Norris dominated most of the race, but a late twist came when defending champion Max Verstappen delayed his pit stop until the final lap, tightening the gap and setting up a tense finish.

A new rule this season required all drivers to make two pit stops. Verstappen’s decision to pit at the last possible moment allowed Leclerc to significantly close in on Norris during the final stretch.

The win was especially important for Norris, putting him just three points behind McLaren teammate and current championship leader Oscar Piastri, who finished third.

Norris had previously triumphed at the Australian Grand Prix in March but had since been overtaken in the standings by Piastri, who has claimed four victories since then.

“Monaco baby, yeah baby!” Norris exclaimed over team radio following the win—his sixth career victory and first at the prestigious Monaco track.

Leclerc, who won in Monaco last year, had to settle for second, while Piastri completed the podium in third. Verstappen’s late stop saw him fall to fourth, though his large advantage over Lewis Hamilton in the Ferrari had allowed him to stay out longer than others.

Despite the new rule changes, which some predicted would cause chaos, the race remained free of safety cars or red flags, raising questions about whether the changes improved the spectacle.

Hamilton finished fifth, followed by Isack Hadjar in sixth, who at one point seemed poised for a surprise podium. His Racing Bulls teammate Liam Lawson played a role by deliberately slowing the pack, allowing Hadjar to make two quick pit stops.

Haas’ Esteban Ocon impressed with a strong drive from 10th to seventh. Red Bull’s junior team claimed additional points with Lawson finishing eighth. Williams drivers Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz took ninth and tenth, contributing heavily to the race’s drama in the midfield.

With Lawson slowing the race pace, Albon and Sainz also eased off significantly, hoping to capitalize on the pit stop rule. This frustrated Mercedes’ George Russell, who voiced his annoyance at Sainz’s tactics.

“This isn’t how I enjoy racing,” Russell said. “I’m not sure how it looked on TV, but from where I was, it was frustrating.”

Russell overtook Albon by cutting the Nouvelle Chicane but was later handed a drive-through penalty—much harsher than the five-second penalty he expected. “To be honest… I’m not going to speak,” was Russell’s final reaction.

Russell finished 11th, just ahead of Haas rookie Oliver Bearman, who climbed from last to 12th, hinting at some merit to the new regulations.

Meanwhile, Fernando Alonso’s misfortunes continued. After calling himself the “unluckiest driver in the world” at Imola, he was forced to retire his Aston Martin while running in sixth, continuing his point-less season.

significantly close in on Norris during the final stretch.

The win was especially important for Norris, putting him just three points behind McLaren teammate and current championship leader Oscar Piastri, who finished third.

Norris had previously triumphed at the Australian Grand Prix in March but had since been overtaken in the standings by Piastri, who has claimed four victories since then.

Leclerc, who won in Monaco last year, had to settle for second, while Piastri completed the podium in third. Verstappen’s late stop saw him fall to fourth, though his large advantage over Lewis Hamilton in the Ferrari had allowed him to stay out longer than others.

Despite the new rule changes, which some predicted would cause chaos, the race remained free of safety cars or red flags, raising questions about whether the changes improved the spectacle.

Hamilton finished fifth, followed by Isack Hadjar in sixth, who at one point seemed poised for a surprise podium. His Racing Bulls teammate Liam Lawson played a role by deliberately slowing the pack, allowing Hadjar to make two quick pit stops.

Haas’ Esteban Ocon impressed with a strong drive from 10th to seventh. Red Bull’s junior team claimed additional points with Lawson finishing eighth. Williams drivers Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz took ninth and tenth, contributing heavily to the race’s drama in the midfield.

With Lawson slowing the race pace, Albon and Sainz also eased off significantly, hoping to capitalize on the pit stop rule. This frustrated Mercedes’ George Russell, who voiced his annoyance at Sainz’s tactics.

“This isn’t how I enjoy racing,” Russell said. “I’m not sure how it looked on TV, but from where I was, it was frustrating.”

Russell overtook Albon by cutting the Nouvelle Chicane but was later handed a drive-through penalty—much harsher than the five-second penalty he expected. “To be honest… I’m not going to speak,” was Russell’s final reaction.

Russell finished 11th, just ahead of Haas rookie Oliver Bearman, who climbed from last to 12th, hinting at some merit to the new regulations.

Meanwhile, Fernando Alonso’s misfortunes continued. After calling himself the “unluckiest driver in the world” at Imola, he was forced to retire his Aston Martin while running in sixth, continuing his point-less season.