2025 F1: Norris wins Monaco GP as two-pitstop rule backfires

Lando Norris successfully fended off Charles Leclerc to win the 2025 Monaco GP, where the mandatory two-pitstop rule resulted in some controversial strategic calls.

Oscar Piastri was third, handing McLaren a double podium finish. It was a crucial win for Norris, as it brings him within three points of his teammate and championship leader Piastri.

1. Norris wins, 3.131 seconds ahead of Leclerc
2. Piastri’s championship lead slashed to three points
3. No points for Mercedes

Norris fends off Leclerc to win Monaco GP

Verstappen P4 after using alternate strategy

Starting from pole position, Norris held on to the lead after surviving a big lock-up at the first corner. He maintained the net lead throughout the race, only losing position while taking his two mandatory pit stops.

Max Verstappen opted for the alternate tyre strategy and left his last stop as late as possible, hoping for a race interruption. While that didn’t materialise, it did bunch up the field in the closing laps, with Verstappen (who yet had to stop) leading, ahead of Norris, Leclerc and Piastri.

Leclerc put the pressure on Norris, but the McLaren driver held on and managed to pull away once in free air, after Verstappen took his pitstop with a lap to go. He crossed the chequered flag 3.131 seconds clear of Leclerc to take his first win at Monaco. “This feels amazing. I’ve achieved one of my dreams – because winning here is what I dreamt of as a kid. So, I’m proud of myself and the team for being able to get the win here,” said Norris.

“It's a long race, but it was good fun because we could push for quite a lot of it. The end of the race was a little challenging with Charles close behind and Max ahead, but I felt under control, able to push when I needed to and chill when I didn’t.”

Piastri settled for third place, followed by Verstappen. Lewis Hamilton gained a few spots following his post-qualifying penalty for impeding Verstappen and finished P5, albeit over 51 seconds off the lead.

Two-pitstop rule falls short

No points for Mercedes

In a bid to avoid the processional races of the past, a one-off rule was introduced for this year’s Monaco GP, making it mandatory for drivers to take two pitstops. While it did add an additional layer of strategy, it also exaggerated some of the worst traits of the Monaco GP.

Racing Bulls, Williams and Mercedes used their drivers to back up the field and gain ‘free’ pitstops. Growing increasingly frustrated by Alex Albon’s defensive driving, George Russell eventually cut the chicane exiting the tunnel to move ahead – a move for which he was handed a drivethrough penalty.

Speaking after the race, Albon admitted “this isn’t how either Carlos [Sainz] or I want to go racing”. Williams team principal James Vowles added, “We need to review the rules and regulations for Monaco, because racing like this feels wrong and I want us to be racing on performance and merit, and we’re not quite there yet.”

Nevertheless, the strategy worked a treat for Racing Bulls, with Isack Hadjar finishing P6 and Liam Lawson P8. Haas’ Esteban Ocon split the two Racing Bull drivers, finishing P7. Both Williams drivers also scored points, with Albon P9 and Sainz P10.

It was a weekend to forget for Mercedes. After starting from the back of the grid, Russell finished P11, while Kimi Antonelli ended up P18 as the last of the classified runners.

“Starting P14 and P15 was going to be a challenge, and we knew about this from the start. There were no scenarios that could have brought us some points and hoping for a red flag or a Safety Car was the only option available to us,” said Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff.

“Saturday's Qualifying penalised us for today's race, and that's usually the case in Monaco when you start further back in the field. It was a frustrating race for our team, and I am sure many fans didn’t enjoy the spectacle. As a sport, we will look at the mandatory two-stop regulation and see how we can avoid these situations in the future.”

2025 F1 championship standings

Having collected his second race win of the season, Norris is now just three points behind championship leader Piastri. Verstappen holds on to third place overall, 22 points behind Norris.

Up next on the F1 calendar is the Spanish GP – May 30-June 1.

2025 Monaco GP results

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