The key figures of Monaco GP

Lando Norris fulfilled one of his childhood dreams with his first victory in Monaco. It’s his third win of the season in what was a great weekend for the British driver. Leclerc and Piastri completed the podium in a race where the mandatory use of three different tire compounds—requiring at least two pit stops—did not prevent, once again, the pole-sitter from conquering the Principality. What did stand out, however, were the varied strategies: from team tactics at Racing Bulls and Williams, to Verstappen’s last-lap pit stop.

On the up

The highlight of the weekend goes to the British driver after a flawless performance. With this crucial victory, Norris is now just three points behind his teammate in the championship fight. He got a strong start, holding off Leclerc and withstanding constant pressure from the Monegasque driver in the closing laps. But his triumph truly began in qualifying, where he took pole and set a new record. His 1:09.954 lap beats the previous mark set by seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton in 2019 (1:10.166). It was a milestone widely celebrated by McLaren, who hadn’t won in Monaco since 2008.

On the down

The downside goes to Fernando Alonso. With everything going his way to score points—running sixth in the race with solid pace—a mechanical failure on lap 38 forced him to retire. That makes eight consecutive races without scoring, and it seems luck and Aston Martin’s reliability are never on his side.

The Disappointment

The disappointment of the day was Mercedes, and especially George Russell. The drama began in qualifying, with Antonelli crashing into the wall, followed by Russell suffering an electrical issue that left him 14th on the grid, just ahead of his teammate in 15th. On Sunday, the German team didn’t shine with their strategy, but it was Russell who made a crucial personal error. He cut the chicane to overtake Alex Albon, who was executing a team strategy aimed at helping Carlos Sainz. When race control instructed him to give the position back, Russell disobeyed, assuming he would only get a five-second penalty—but the FIA came down hard and handed him a drive-through.

The Surprise

The surprise came from the main players in the strategic chess match in Monaco: the Racing Bulls. They executed a bold team strategy that worked in their favor. Knowing how hard overtaking is in Monaco, they used Lawson as a moving roadblock, slowing the pace so that Hadjar could make two pit stops without losing track position. In the end, Lawson also finished in the points. Although many in the paddock questioned the approach taken by the Faenza-based team, the result was clear: a solid haul of points.

Consistency Award

The consistency award once again goes to Verstappen. Even without the car or pace over the weekend, he gave it everything in the race, constantly pressuring Piastri and attempting a bold last-lap pit stop. He went all-in, stretching both pit stops in hopes of a Safety Car that never came. While it didn’t pay off, the Dutchman remains a symbol of relentless effort. With a fourth-place finish in Monaco, Verstappen stays third in the championship, 25 points behind leader Oscar Piastri.