When it comes to Formula 1, there’s no race quite as legendary as the Monaco Grand Prix! It’s one of the most iconic and prestigious races in the F1 calendar, and the 2025 edition of the race on Sunday, May 25th, was a spectacle unlike any other. Held on the narrow streets of Monte Carlo, the Grand Prix continues to put drivers to the ultimate test, where precision matters more than speed and overtaking is nearly impossible to achieve. Even as the Formula 1 calendar has expanded and exciting new venues have been added, the 78-lap race has stood the test of time and remains the crown jewel of the now 24-race season. This year’s Monaco Grand Prix proved to be an even greater challenge for drivers and teams due to an experimental new rule that forced drivers to use three sets of tires.
In an attempt to add extra jeopardy to the race, resulting in a more exciting event on the narrow street circuit, Formula 1 added a mandatory two pit stops this time around. The unexpected change to the rule book added even more pitfalls for drivers to navigate and F1 is now facing major backlash for the regulation. Even the 2025 Monaco Grand Prix race winner, Lando Norris, was left unimpressed saying that the rule had "just given people opportunity by luck, by waiting for a red flag, or waiting for a safety car.” Fans have since reflected on past races when the winner was based solely on the person who drove the best and deserved to win, rather than who is the best at manipulating the rules.
Despite the 2025 Monaco Grand Prix being untraditional compared to races in the past, the weekend still lived up to the hype in many ways, delivering a mix of strategic battles and legendary performances that had fans on the edge of their seats. Let’s get up to speed on the fan favourite Monaco Grand Prix, and what made this weekend’s event so unforgettable!
Norris Takes Victory
Let’s kick things off with the star of the weekend: Lando Norris! After years of coming close to the win, as well as his recent struggles with the McLaren car changes that have dulled the feeling the drivers get from the front axle, Norris has proven he’s driving “smarter” this season. This weekend's win marked a monumental moment for Norris, as he secured a commanding victory for McLaren, expertly navigating the challenges of the new mandatory two-stop rule change with considerable ease. Starting from pole position, Norris maintained his lead throughout the 78-lap contest from start to finish, executing both pit stops masterfully and proving that teams can adapt to new formats quickly.
Even under immense pressure from Charles Leclerc following close behind, Norris kept his leading stride, crossing the finish line and cutting Piastri's lead at the head of the championship to three points. Many fans are speculating a major shift in power dynamic among top teams following Norris’ triumph, following his previous win in Australia. You could tell that this Monaco win was a dream come true for Norris, and we can’t wait to see what’s in store for him!
While Norris maintained the lead, the real drama was in the battle behind him! Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc finished second in front of his home crowd, the strongest weekend of the year in Monaco for Ferrari. Despite being pleasantly surprised that his Ferrari was a genuine victory threat for the first time in 2025, Leclrec expressed his frustration over the race's predictability and the importance of qualifying in Monaco. He also made a point of reminding us just how difficult it is to overtake on the narrow road. For a driver who grew up in Monaco, winning at home is an extra special honour, so we can understand his frustration at just falling short of this win. Nevertheless, a second-place finish on home soil while driving honorably throughout the race is still very impressive!
Piastri Stays in the Lead
Oscar Piastri rounded out the podium in third place, keeping his lead in the championship but feeling the pressure from Norris closing in. While he probably hoped for a better outcome, he still had an admirable race and should walk away feeling proud of his performance. Monaco’s a very difficult track and pulling off any kind of maneuver to get ahead is close to impossible. It’s clear to all of us that he did his best with the car he was given. Piastri is still leading the charge for the Drivers’ Championship, however with Norris only three points behind, his position isn’t guaranteed. With round nine of the season taking place next weekend in Spain, Piastri believes he’ll come back stronger than ever!
Verstappen’s Setback
Sadly, for Red Bull and Max Verstappen, the weekend was pretty anticlimactic by their standards. Verstappen finished just off the podium in fourth but never looked like a threat for the win after struggling with unfortunate tire issues. He went into the race at an immediate disadvantage, having only one set each of the medium and hard tires available. Red Bull’s inverted strategy to try and save face backfired, with Verstappen delaying his final pit stop as late as possible only to end up stopping with one lap to go for his final set, dropping him to fourth place. Verstappen’s takeaway from this weekend was that they “did everything right and there wasn’t much more we could have done to change the result.” He’s also predicting they’ll be able to race more in Barcelona, so we’ll see what happens in the final race of the triple header!
What’s Next?
Every year, the same debate circulates among fans, drivers, and teams: is Monaco still a good fit for present-day Formula 1? Even with new car regulations centered around improving overtaking, passing was still nearly impossible unless someone made a mistake. Whether F1’s move to make Monaco have two pit stops was viewed as a success or a failure is very much down to opinion. But what it’s done, at least, is open the conversation for where things should go from here.
On a more positive note, the European triple-header continues with next weekend's Spanish Grand Prix! Marking the last to take place at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya before the race moves to Madrid in 2026. The championship is starting to heat up now, especially with the new dynamic Norris brings into the next race. If Monaco was any indication, we’re in for an even wilder ride as the season continues!
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