Breaking:Monaco GP 2025: Norris Claims Pole, Leclerc Falls Short as Hamilton and Verstappen crash heated… read more
Monaco GP 2025: Norris Claims Pole Leclerc Falls Short as Hamilton and Verstappen crash heated… read more
In an intense and drama-filled qualifying session for the 2025 Monaco Grand Prix, Lando Norris stunned the Formula 1 world by seizing pole position with a record-breaking lap. The McLaren driver clocked a sensational time of 1:09.954 seconds—the fastest ever at the iconic Monaco circuit and the first to dip below the 70-second mark.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who had been dominant in all three practice sessions, looked poised to claim pole on his home turf. However, despite his strong pace, he was narrowly beaten by Norris by just 0.109 seconds and will start Sunday’s race from second place. Oscar Piastri delivered another impressive performance for McLaren, securing third on the grid, 0.175 seconds off the top.
The qualifying session wasn’t without its share of chaos. Mercedes’ young rookie Kimi Antonelli faced heartbreak in Q1 after clipping the barriers and crashing at the end of the session. Sitting on the edge of the top 15 at the time, the red flag caused by his crash left him with no chance to advance to Q2. The damage to his car also ruled him out of any further action in qualifying.
Mercedes’ woes continued into Q2 when George Russell suffered an apparent electrical failure, forcing him to a halt inside the tunnel and bringing out another red flag. With both cars eliminated, it was a day to forget for the Silver Arrows.
Other notable eliminations included Carlos Sainz, Yuki Tsunoda, and Nico Hulkenberg, all failing to break into the top 10. Tsunoda, driving for Red Bull, once again missed out on Q3, continuing a disappointing streak in qualifying.
The session also witnessed rising tensions between two of the sport’s biggest stars—Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton. Verstappen accused Hamilton of “massive impeding” during a key flying lap, and the incident has been referred to the stewards for review. Hamilton, who ended the session in fourth, had shown promising pace, but controversy now looms over his result. Verstappen, meanwhile, could only manage fifth place, nearly three-quarters of a second off the pace.
Further back, Racing Bulls’ Isack Hadjar impressed by qualifying sixth, just ahead of Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso in seventh. Haas driver Esteban Ocon, Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson, and Williams’ Alex Albon completed the top 10.
Among those eliminated in Q1 were Gabriel Bortoleti, Pierre Gasly, Franco Colapinto, and Lance Stroll, with Stroll facing further penalties after being found to have impeded Gasly. He had already been handed a one-place grid penalty for an earlier incident in free practice.
The qualifying format, split into three sessions (Q1, Q2, and Q3), whittles the field down from 20 to 15, then to 10, before the top 10 battle it out for pole. In Monaco, where track position is critical, Norris’ historic lap may prove decisive
in Sunday’s race.
