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Shock at Monaco! Verstappen Crashes Out in Final Lap Drama
In one of the most dramatic finishes in recent Formula 1 history, reigning world champion Max Verstappen crashed out on the final lap of the Monaco Grand Prix, handing an unexpected victory to McLaren’s Lando Norris in front of a stunned Monte Carlo crowd.
Verstappen, who had led the race from pole position, looked poised for a dominant win before disaster struck as he exited the infamous Tunnel section. His Red Bull RB21 clipped the barrier after what team principal Christian Horner described as “a freak moment of oversteer,” sending the car spinning into the wall and bringing his race to a sudden and shocking end.
“I’m gutted,” Verstappen said in a post-race interview. “We had the pace all weekend, the car felt great, and I just lost it. One small mistake — and that’s Monaco. No room for error.”
The Dutch driver’s DNF (Did Not Finish) sent shockwaves through the paddock and opened the door for Norris, who had been running second but under no serious threat, to take the win his second career victory and McLaren’s first triumph at Monaco since 2008.
Unexpected Twist in the Title Fight
Verstappen’s retirement has major implications for the 2025 Drivers’ Championship. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who finished second on home soil, now trails Verstappen by just 12 points. The title race, once a seemingly one-horse contest, is wide open again.
Mercedes’ George Russell completed the podium in third, while his teammate Lewis Hamilton finished fifth after a strategic gamble on hard tires didn’t pay off.
Emotions Run High in the Principality
The race also featured multiple incidents, including a first-lap collision between Esteban Ocon and Kevin Magnussen, which brought out the safety car. Yet nothing compared to the drama that unfolded in the final moments.
“That’s why this sport is so unpredictable,” said F1 pundit and former world champion Jenson Button. “You can dominate for 77 laps but in Monaco, one corner can change everything.”
Looking Ahead
The next stop on the F1 calendar is the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal. With the championship battle reignited and Verstappen eager to bounce back, all eyes will be on Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.
But today, in the glittering streets of Monaco, it’s Lando Norris who takes center stage — and Max Verstappen who will be left wondering how it all slipped away in the blink of an eye.
