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By Staff Writer with Agencies
Monte Carlo, Monaco — Lando Norris stole the show on the streets of Monte Carlo, snatching pole position for the 2025 Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix in a stunning final qualifying run. The McLaren driver edged out Ferrari’s hometown hero Charles Leclerc by just 0.109 seconds with a blistering lap of 1:09.954.
The pole marks Norris’ second of the season and reaffirms McLaren’s status as a rising powerhouse in the 2025 campaign.
Championship leader and Norris’ McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri secured third place, completing a strong front-row lockout for the Woking-based team. Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton, continuing his adaptation to the Scuderia after his high-profile switch from Mercedes, qualified fourth, with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen rounding out the top five.
It was a disappointing day for Mercedes, with both George Russell and rookie Kimi Antonelli unable to make it into Q3. Their mid-pack eliminations highlighted ongoing reliability and performance issues that have plagued the team throughout the season.
In a remarkable showing, Isack Hadjar placed sixth for Racing Bulls, just 0.001 seconds ahead of veteran Fernando Alonso in the Aston Martin. Esteban Ocon impressed with Haas in eighth, while Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson and Williams’ Alexander Albon completed the top ten.
Here’s how the full qualifying session unfolded:
🏁 2025 Monaco Grand Prix – Qualifying Results
| Pos | Driver | Team | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lando Norris | McLaren | 1:09.954 |
| 2 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 1:10.063 |
| 3 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | 1:10.129 |
| 4 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | 1:10.382 |
| 5 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | 1:10.669 |
| 6 | Isack Hadjar | Racing Bulls | 1:10.923 |
| 7 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin | 1:10.924 |
| 8 | Esteban Ocon | Haas | 1:10.942 |
| 9 | Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls | 1:11.129 |
| 10 | Alexander Albon | Williams | 1:11.213 |
| 11 | Carlos Sainz | Williams | 1:11.362 |
| 12 | Yuki Tsunoda | Red Bull | 1:11.415 |
| 13 | Nico Hulkenberg | Stake | 1:11.596 |
| 14 | George Russell | Mercedes | – |
| 15 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | – |
| 16 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Stake | 1:11.902 |
| 17 | Oliver Bearman | Haas | 1:11.979 |
| 18 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine | 1:11.994 |
| 19 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin | 1:12.563 |
| 20 | Franco Colapinto | Alpine | 1:12.597 |
With overtaking notoriously difficult on Monaco’s tight circuit, Norris will have a prime opportunity to convert his pole into a win on Sunday — but with Leclerc determined to triumph at home and Piastri chasing championship points, it promises to be a nail-biting Grand Prix.
Stay tuned for full race coverage tomorrow.