The Monaco Grand Prix is one of the most well-known racing events. Every year, millions of people watch as the twenty Formula One drivers move their cars around the tight track. Last season, it was the home hero, Charles Leclerc, who secured the victory. This time, try as hard as he might, there was nothing he could do against the raw speed of Lando Norris’ McLaren.
There is no track in the Formula One calendar on which qualifying matters more than it does in Monaco. With how difficult it is to overtake around the streets of the principality, a good starting position can make or break a race. That is why every year, the Saturday in Monaco is almost as tense as the Sunday.
2025 was no different. The cars appeared on track as soon as the green light shone at the end of the pit lane and immediately began their attempts at a good lap. Leclerc topped the times in Q1, bringing some hope into the hearts of all Ferrari fans. They hoped that he would keep the streak going in Q2, but he got beaten by the lightning-fast McLaren.
Still, the only time when being first truly mattered was Q3, the last part of the qualifying hours. It was then that Leclerc took everything he knew about the streets of Monaco and put it all into one last attempt at getting the coveted pole. He managed a very impressive lap, good enough to temporarily put him in front of everyone else. The one problem was the the two McLarens were still on track, trying to put together quick laps of their own.
It is no secret to anyone following the season that the McLaren is much faster than the Ferrari. It was therefore no surprise when one of its drivers managed to convert that speed into a lap good enough for pole position. Despite Leclerc’s best efforts, it was Norris who was set to start the Monaco Grand Prix from the best possible spot.
Leclerc was determined to do everything he could to secure the victory despite starting 2nd. As soon as the race began, he attacked Norris and tried to squeeze past him in the very first corner of the track. He didn’t manage to find enough space and had to settle for staying in second.
Neither Leclerc nor Norris pitted under the virtual safety car brought out after Gabriel Bortoleto’s lap one incident. Norris changed his tires on lap 19, while Leclerc stayed out a while longer, hoping to overcut his rival. The strategy did not work like he might have hoped it would, and he ended up coming out behind the McLaren.
Since the last Monaco Grand Prix, a new rule was added regarding the race. In 2025, the drivers were forced to pit at least two times over the course of the Grand Prix. This meant that despite their early stops, both Leclerc and Norris needed to pay one more visit to the pits. This time, it was the Monegasque who pitted first, doing so on lap 50. His rival followed his lead a lap later. Once again, the pits provided no change in order.
With less than thirty laps to go, Norris and Leclerc were 2nd and 3rd, behind only Max Verstappen, who had not yet performed his mandatory second stop. The Red Bull driver’s only chance of winning the race was a sudden red flag that would give him the opportunity to pit without losing track position. Hoping that luck would be on his side, Verstappen stretched his second stint for as long as he could.
With the Red Bull in front of him, Norris couldn’t unleash the full speed of his McLaren. This gave Leclerc the opportunity to get very close and stay within a second of his rival. Unfortunately, he didn’t manage to attempt the overtake. On lap 77, Verstappen peeled into the pit lane, allowing Norris to soar away from Leclerc and straight towards the checkered line.
While Leclerc is undoubtedly one of the best drivers around the streets of Monaco, no amount of talent could bridge the gap between the Ferrari and the McLaren. The weekend still provided a lot of emotions for fans of all teams and was a reminder of just how tense the Monaco Grand Prix can get.
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