Lando Norris wins Monaco GP and revives his F1 title hopes

McLaren star Lando Norris dominates in Monte Carlo to close title gap and prove he’s still in the fight for the 2025 F1 championship.

Lando Norris of the McLaren Formula 1 Team celebrates his victory at the 2025 Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix. Photo by Luca Martini/SOPA Images

By Adila Ghina and Randy Ahmad

Lando Norris wins Monaco GP 2025 in a fashion that showcased not only his composure and maturity but also reignited his bid to become Formula 1 world champion. For the British driver, the victory at Monte Carlo wasn’t just another win — it was a statement.

Norris’s triumph came after 78 laps of intense, strategic racing through the winding, unforgiving streets of Monaco. While he had to survive an early scare into Turn 1 — locking both front tires — the McLaren driver maintained his lead, responded flawlessly to the new pit stop rules, and navigated the high-stakes challenge of being chased down by Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.

“I did everything I could,” Norris reflected post-race. “If a red flag came, it came. But I stayed focused. No dramas.”

It was a tense affair, especially with reigning champion Max Verstappen staying out late, gambling on a red flag to get a free pit stop. That moment never arrived. When Verstappen pitted at the end of Lap 77, Norris, who had been running second, was released and immediately proved his pace with the fastest lap of the race before cruising to the checkered flag.

A dream realized in Monte Carlo

The Monaco Grand Prix win is special for every driver, but for Norris, it fulfilled one of his lifelong goals.

“There are many things I think everyone dreams of,” Norris said. “It’s getting to Formula One, winning a race, and winning in Monaco. My kids will one day be able to say I won Monaco. That’s what I’m most proud of.”

It wasn’t just the race win that defined this weekend for Norris, but how he achieved it. From securing a critical pole position to executing flawless tire strategy and managing immense pressure from behind, Norris showed the poise of a seasoned champion.

McLaren sees the evolution of their star

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella praised Norris’s cold-blooded execution under pressure.

“He went through various situations which required cold blood,” Stella said. “He stayed very lucid. No panic.”

That calm execution has been lacking in Norris’s recent performances, especially in qualifying. After winning the 2025 season opener in Australia, Norris struggled to recapture his edge on Saturdays — often outpaced by Verstappen and his own teammate Oscar Piastri, whose comfort with McLaren’s current car setup gave him the upper hand.

But in Monaco, Norris found his rhythm again. He clinched pole with a special lap in Q3, beating hometown hero Leclerc by just a tenth of a second.

The pole that changed everything

For Norris, the Monaco pole was arguably more emotional than the race win itself.

“I was probably more emotional yesterday than I was today,” Norris admitted. “I got my groove back in qualifying. That’s what I was trying to get back.”

The breakthrough came after a concerted effort to shift his mindset, dialing back the perfectionism that had led to frustration. McLaren CEO Zak Brown hinted that the key was allowing himself to not obsess over the perfect lap.

“(He was) just focused and not worried about being perfect,” Brown told Sky Sports. “The first lap was really good. The second one got it done.”

Momentum and belief

The win in Monaco marks a significant psychological boost. As Norris put it, it was “a small step forward,” not a total return to dominance, but an important shift in momentum nonetheless.

“There’s still a lot to work on,” Norris said. “The car is quick enough, but we’re still working on giving me the tools to maximize every result.”

Andrea Stella agreed, adding, “This is a journey, and Monaco is one stage. But it shows belief in our work delivers results.”

Piastri, pressure, and performance

Crucially, Norris’s win halts the growing momentum of teammate Oscar Piastri, who had been pulling away in the drivers’ standings. After the Monaco GP, the gap between the two McLaren drivers is just three points heading into the Spanish Grand Prix.

While Piastri had flashes of speed in Monaco, he crashed in Free Practice 2 and lacked the rhythm to challenge Norris in qualifying or the race.

For Norris, this performance was a vital reminder — to himself and the paddock — that he remains very much in the hunt for the 2025 title.

Sunday strength, Saturday breakthrough

Even when qualifying proved difficult in earlier rounds, Norris showed resilience on Sundays. His race craft helped him salvage points and podiums, but missing out on optimal grid positions limited his chances to win.

Now, having proved he can reclaim pole and convert it under pressure, the question becomes whether he can sustain this form.

Consistency is key for the title fight

Norris emphasized that one win, even in Monaco, doesn’t define a season.

“Consistency is what I need,” he said. “I’ve had good Sundays. I want Saturdays back too.”

He knows the championship is a long campaign, and with McLaren giving him the tools he needs — both in car performance and team support — the pieces are there.

“The people that have won here in the past… most have gone on to be world champion,” Norris noted. “Maybe not all, but most. I want to be one of them.”

As Formula 1 heads to Spain, Lando Norris carries with him more than just 25 points. He carries the confidence of a Monaco Grand Prix winner and the momentum of a title contender.

Lando Norris wins Monaco GP 2025 — and he might just be getting started.

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