Monaco Grand Prix pole position clinched by Lando Norris prior to Formula One's transformation.
In a riveting climax, British racer Lando Norris clinched the pole position for the Formula-1 race in Monaco. The 25-year-old McLaren driver raced the fastest lap, edging out local hero and last year's winner Charles Leclerc of Ferrari by a marginal 0.109 seconds.
Norris' dramatic victory in securing the front grid position was hard-earned. Leclerc, who won the race in Monaco last year and was poised for a repeat, fell just short. The decisive moment came in the final lap, as Norris clocked an impressive 1:09.954 minutes, leaving the defending champion in his wake.
"I am proud we've achieved this here. This is a special place for that," Norris said. The Monaco resident earned an unprecedented eleventh pole in his career, making the second time this season, following the season opener in Australia. Norris admitted he faced some challenges in recent months, but credited his resilience and attention to detail for overcoming them.
Norris stands a good chance of winning in Monaco for the first time on Sunday (3 pm on Sky and live on ntv.de). With the narrow streets making overtaking difficult, the start position at the front significantly boosts prospects for the next Grand Prix triumph. However, a new rule is introduced for the first time: All drivers must make two pit stops. The change is intended to introduce more tactical possibilities, enhancing race tensions.
Before the eighth of the 24 World Championship races, the McLaren driver Oscar Piastri leads the overall World Championship standings, 13 points ahead of Norris. Piastri will start as third, while Red Bull's Max Verstappen, current World champion and third in the World Championship, occupies the fifth position.
Leclerc surprised with the fastest times in all three practice sessions. The former Vice-World Champion voiced concern about his home race, given recent weaknesses with his Ferrari, particularly in slow corners. However, Monaco's shortest circuit concealed those issues.
Mercedes drivers had a less fortunate day, as Italian Kimi Antonelli crashed his Mercedes into the crash barrier due to a driving error, causing an interruption. Recovery operations delayed George Russell's second silver arrow, which was stranded in the tunnel due to electronic problems, ultimately needing to be pushed out. Despite this setback, Norris conserved the best possible starting position for the race on the Côte d'Azur.
"At the end, there's always something you could have done better," said the narrowly beaten Leclerc. "But today, that was the best lap." Leclerc acknowledged the frustration of missing the pole by such a small margin but considered it a positive sign of his competitive edge. "But I don't think we have great chances of winning," he added.
The new pit stop rule for the 2025 Monaco Grand Prix mandates drivers to make at least two pit stops, regardless of conditions, and requires the use of at least three sets of tyres across at least two different compounds, introducing significant strategic shifts, especially for a circuit known for its lack of overtaking opportunities and processional races.
I'm not going to be able to do this, given the new rule requiring two pit stops for the upcoming Monaco Grand Prix. Sports like racing are all about strategy, and this rule change introduces a significant shift, potentially enhancing race tensions.
