Lando Norris secured a hard-fought victory in the Monaco Grand Prix, outmaneuvering local favorite Charles Leclerc in a nail-biting finale. Norris, starting from pole position, controlled the race but was pushed to the limit by reigning world champion Max Verstappen’s late stop.
A new rule for this year mandated two pit stops, which allowed Leclerc to close the gap to Norris as Verstappen waited until the final lap to make his stop. The decision paid off for Norris, who moved within three points of championship leader Oscar Piastri and claimed a crucial first win since the Australian Grand Prix.
The rule change led to an unpredictable race, with Williams drivers Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz backing up the field due to mandated pit stops. This caused tension among the drivers, including Mercedes’ George Russell, who complained about the slow pace of the pack. However, Norris ultimately emerged victorious, taking his first win since the season opener.
Norris’s win moved him closer to Piastri in the championship standings, while Leclerc settled for second place. Verstappen dropped down to fourth position after his late stop, and the Red Bull team will look to capitalize on their sister team Racing Bulls’ positive result with sixth-place finisher Isack Hadjar.
The Monaco Grand Prix will be remembered for its thrilling conclusion, which raised questions about the success of the new rule change. Despite controversy surrounding the rules, Norris’s victory was a welcome relief for his team and fans.
Source: https://www.espn.com/f1/story/_/id/45252751/lando-norris-holds-charles-leclerc-take-first-monaco-win