Lando Norris finally wrote a glorious chapter in his career on the most glamorous and challenging stage in F1, the Monaco Street Race. On May 25, 2025, the British driver of McLaren not only defended his advantage of starting from pole position, but also calmly responded to intense strategic attacks and stress tests, and finally beat Ferrari’s home hope Charles Leclerc and his teammate Oscar Piastri to win his second victory of the season. And he closed the gap with Piastri at the top of the rankings.
A nearly perfect victory: a display of cold-bloodedness and precision
From the moment the starting lights went out, Norris faced tremendous pressure. Especially at the first corner of Sainte-Dévote, he withstood Leclerc’s onslaught and almost lost control on a big lock, but still maintained his lead. Later, through the virtual safety car stage, traffic jams and the newly introduced “3 tyres + 2 pit stops” strategy rule challenge, Norris and the McLaren team demonstrated highly coordinated tactical execution.
This was not a win by chance, but a masterpiece of perfect planning and extreme control. The praise from McLaren team leader Andrea Stella further speaks to the cold and precise performance.
Main strategy: How to outwit Verstappen and Piastri
Max Verstappen briefly took the lead using various tyre strategies, but a long first pit stop forced him to make a second pit stop on the second to last lap, directly handing him the victory. This also reflects the superiority of the “neutral strategy” chosen by Norris and McLaren. Even if you are not aggressive, with a stable rhythm and clear track conditions, you can steadily maintain your lead until the finish line.
Piastri tried to undercut by pitting early (to gain an advantage in changing tires), but a late pit stop cost him the lead over Leclerc and he finished third. The gap between him and Norris in the rankings narrowed to just three points, and the battle for the World Championship was once again fierce.
The face of a new generation of “Monaco champions”
Lando Norris has been seen as one of the future F1 leaders since his first win in 2024, but this pit stop in Monaco made him a true “big shot”. This knife-narrow street circuit was once called an “outdated design with no room for overtaking”, but Norris used his skill and will to prove that victory can come from more than just speed: a calm mentality, teamwork, and a strategic layout.
McLaren, a return to glory?
This victory was not only a personal breakthrough for Norris, but also put McLaren on a firmer path to rebuild. This legendary team, which once had Senna and Prost, has finally returned to being a strong team after many years, after a restructuring of Mercedes’ engines and technology. With the golden duo of Norris and Piastri, McLaren is no longer a “favorite”, but a strong challenger to Red Bull and Ferrari.
Frequently Asked Questions
Lando Norris is a British F1 racing driver who belongs to McLaren. Since 2019, he has been popular both inside and outside the F1 world for his stable performance and friendly personality. At the 2025 Monaco Grand Prix, he won his second victory of the season, further solidifying his position in the championship.
Norris started from pole position, successfully fended off Leclerc’s attack at the start, and perfectly executed his two forced pit stop strategy. He kept his cool under pressure from Verstappen and the threat of his teammate Piastri, and ultimately won the championship with the fastest lap.
Yes, this is the first time Norris has won a street race in Monaco. The Monaco Grand Prix is known for being a difficult race, and Norris’ victory symbolizes his official promotion from a rising star to one of the top drivers.
With this victory, Norris has narrowed the points gap to his teammate Oscar Piastri to just three points. This not only solidifies his position at the top of the rankings, but will also add more tension to the championship battle for the rest of this season.
To improve the spectator experience and strategic changes at the Monaco Grand Prix, for the first time, the FIA has experimentally stipulated that each driver must use at least three different tire compounds and make two pit stops. Although the race still lacks an overtaking element, the strategic variables add to the tension of the race.
With both Norris and Piastri on the podium, McLaren has solidified its position at the top of the team rankings, demonstrating its continued technological progress and strategic precision from mid-2023 onwards. If it can maintain its current performance, it has a good chance of winning the annual double crown.
Conclusion: Norris, this is not the end, but just the beginning
For Lando Norris, Monaco was not just a victory, but a declaration of status. He proved that he is not only a driver with great speed, but also has the wisdom and stability to stand out in the most complex battles. With the season reaching its climax, can Norris win his first world championship? The answer is not far away.
Raj Malhotra