Lando Norris Takes Pole for Monaco GP Amid Tyre Rule Changes

MONACO — Lando Norris secured pole position for the 2025 Monaco Grand Prix on Saturday. He will start alongside Charles Leclerc, with Oscar Piastri in third and Max Verstappen in fourth.

Norris, driving for McLaren, aims to win his first Monaco GP, and his position on the front row presents a strong opportunity. However, a new tyre regulation requiring drivers to make two mandatory pit stops is set to shake up the race.

Only five times in the last 21 years has the pole sitter failed to win Monaco’s prestigious race. Norris will face competition from Leclerc, Piastri, and a highly strategic race influenced by the new rule. The FIA introduced the pit stop mandate after a dull race last year, where no overtakes occurred in the top ten.

“There’ll be more opportunity for everyone,” Norris said. “Of course, in my position now, I probably don’t agree with what’s been done. But I’m not the one who makes the rules.”

Leclerc, hoping to win Monaco again, must decide whether to undercut Norris with an early pit stop or gamble on a later one to save time in case of a Safety Car. “I think it’s going to be a bit of chaos,” Leclerc stated, reflecting on the unpredictable nature of the race.

Norris set a new track record during qualifying, finishing just ahead of Leclerc. Piastri, his teammate, is 13 points behind him in the Drivers’ Championship and is looking for a solid performance to improve his standing.

With the revised rules, some drivers starting further back may pit early to gain clean air, adding to the race’s strategy dynamic. “You will see half of the drivers will go one direction and half will go in the other,” said George Russell, highlighting the split tactics expected during the race.

The Monaco Grand Prix will take place on Sunday, May 25, at 2 PM local time. Fans can watch the race live on Sky Sports F1 and Main Event, with pre-race coverage starting at 12:30 PM.