Lando Norris claimed one of the most prestigious victories on the calendar by winning the 2025 Monaco Grand Prix. The British McLaren driver, who hadn’t won since Australia, rediscovered his best form on the streets of the Principality with a flawless performance, holding off relentless pressure from Charles Leclerc for over half the race. With this win, his second of the season, Norris narrows the gap in the championship to just two points behind leader and teammate Oscar Piastri, further intensifying the internal battle at McLaren.
The start was clean, though tense in the opening corners. Norris firmly defended his pole position against an aggressive Leclerc, while Piastri, somewhat more conservative, fell behind the leading duo. From there, the race was decided strategically, and McLaren managed to respond to every threat from Ferrari to maintain their star driver’s lead. Leclerc once again fell just short of a home victory. Piastri completed the podium, while Verstappen, following a risky strategy, finished fourth.
Verstappen and Red Bull bet on a miracle… and lose it
Max Verstappen and Red Bull attempted a risky move in Monaco by extending his second pit stop to the limit, hoping for a red flag that never came. The Austrian team decided to keep the Dutch driver on track while his main rivals had already made their two pit stops, seeking a stroke of luck that would allow them to gain positions for free. However, the plan failed, and Max had to pit on the final lap, dropping from virtual race leader to a fourth-place finish.
The gamble was logical, on a circuit where overtaking is almost impossible; a safety car or red flag could have handed him the victory. But Monaco showed no mercy. Norris, Leclerc, and Piastri had already made their pit stops and had fresher tires, while Verstappen was running slower as his tires degraded. The Dutchman finished resigned, with no real chance to fight for the podium and a clear sign that this time Red Bull missed the mark.
Alonso records his eighth retirement in eight races
Fernando Alonso’s ordeal in the 2025 season continues. The Asturian driver once again retired from the Monaco race due to a mechanical problem, when he was running sixth and had a strong chance to score his first points of the year. On lap 38, the AMR25 was forced to stop because of an engine failure, forcing him to park his car at the Rascasse corner and registering his eighth consecutive retirement in eight Grand Prix, a devastating statistic reminiscent of the worst moments of his career.
The Spaniard had qualified in a promising sixth position and maintained a competitive pace in the early laps, but Aston Martin’s reliability failed once again. “There’s smoke. We’re stopping”, were the words he transmitted over the radio before shutting down his car. The frustration was evident. 2025 is proving to be a transitional season for the British team, which hopes to improve with the arrival of Adrian Newey and the regulation changes in 2026. Meanwhile, Alonso continues to demonstrate talent, but without reward.
