2025 Monaco GP

The 2025 Monaco Grand Prix is the eighth race of the 76th season of the Formula 1 World Championship organized by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). The race took place on the traditional Circuit de Monaco street circuit in Monte Carlo, Principality of Monaco, between 23 and 25 May 2025. The Monaco Grand Prix, one of the oldest races on the Formula 1 calendar, is an event notable not only for its sporting significance but also for its cultural and historical importance.

On the circuit, known for its narrow streets and difficult overtaking opportunities, the introduction this year of a mandatory requirement to use three different tire compounds guided teams to develop diverse strategies and added strategic depth to the race. This rule change brought an unprecedented dynamism to the Monaco GP, traditionally characterized by few overtaking maneuvers.

Starting from pole position, McLaren driver Lando Norris delivered an outstanding performance to win the race and simultaneously set a new circuit record. Following Norris, Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc, racing on home soil, finished second, while McLaren’s other driver Oscar Piastri secured third place. With both drivers on the podium, McLaren became the most successful team of the race.

2025 Monaco GP Image 1 (Formula 1)

Qualifying Sessions

In the eighth race of the 2025 Formula 1 World Championship, the Monaco Grand Prix, McLaren-Mercedes driver Lando Norris recorded a lap time of 1:09.954 during qualifying. This time became the fastest official lap ever recorded on the circuit in any session.

Norris secured pole position with this time in the Q3 session of qualifying. His lap time was faster than the previous circuit record of 1:10.166, which had been set by Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton during the 2019 Monaco Grand Prix qualifying session.

Lando Norris after qualifying sessions – (Formula 1)

During the same session, Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc recorded a time of 1:10.063 and McLaren driver Oscar Piastri recorded 1:10.129, placing second and third fastest respectively. Although both times were faster than Hamilton’s 2019 record, In accordance with FIA regulations^【1】 only the fastest lap was designated as the official circuit record, so Norris’s lap was officially recognized as the new record.

During qualifying, track conditions were dry with stable temperatures. Drivers predominantly used soft compound tires. Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli retired from the session after a crash in Q1. George Russell failed to set a lap time in Q2 due to a battery issue.

In Q3, Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton received a three-place grid penalty for impeding the fast lap of Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen. Despite recording the fourth-fastest time, Hamilton was therefore required to start the race from seventh position.

Race

The Monaco Grand Prix, the seventh round of the 2025 Formula 1 season, took place on the streets of Monte Carlo. For the first time this year, the mandatory two-pit-stop rule and the requirement to use three different tire compounds became key factors shaping the race’s strategic dynamics.

Lando Norris, starting from pole position, held his position despite a wheel lock-up in the first corner. Throughout the race, Virtual Safety Car (VSC) periods, traffic on track, and pit strategies frequently altered positions. Norris secured his second win of the season, reducing his deficit in the championship standings. McLaren driver Oscar Piastri finished third, cutting his points gap to the championship leader to three.

Norris and Leclerc at the Monaco GP (Formula 1)

Charles Leclerc, racing for Ferrari on home soil, applied pressure to Norris at various stages of the race. His early attack at the Sainte Devote corner and his late-race push, following a drop in Verstappen’s pace, drew attention. Leclerc finished the race in second place.

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen employed an alternative tire strategy during the race and briefly led the field thanks to long stints. However, he returned to fourth place after making his mandatory second pit stop on the penultimate lap.

Lewis Hamilton, starting from seventh after his qualifying penalty, gained two positions during the race to finish fifth. Isack Hadjar of the RB team overtook Haas driver Esteban Ocon and teammate Liam Lawson to claim sixth place.

The Williams team coordinated its strategy to ensure both drivers did not lose positions while pitting. Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz finished ninth and tenth respectively, scoring points. Mercedes driver George Russell, who was running behind Williams, was penalized by the stewards for aggressive maneuvers against Albon and received a drive-through penalty. Russell finished the race in 11th place.

Haas driver Ollie Bearman, despite a 10-place grid penalty, completed the race in 12th position. Alpine drivers Franco Colapinto and Gabriel Bortoleto finished immediately behind him. Bortoleto continued the race after colliding with barriers following contact with Antonelli during the opening lap.

Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli finished 18th after applying his pit strategy too late. Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin retired from the race due to a mechanical failure. Alpine driver Pierre Gasly was eliminated after contact with Tsunoda.

Lando Norris set the fastest lap of the race in the final lap with a time of 1:13.221.