McLaren maintain momentum with strong showing in Monaco
McLaren's Lando Norris celebrates winning the Formula One Monaco Grand Prix on Sunday.
Image: Gabriel Bouys / AFP
McLaren tightened their grip on both the world drivers' and constructors' championships with another commanding display at the Monaco Grand Prix, reinforcing their position as the pacesetters of the 2025 season.
Despite Ferrari's Charles Leclerc splitting the pair, McLaren once again underlined their status as the team to beat, with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri finishing first and third, respectively.
With each passing race, the title battle is increasingly shaping up to be an internal affair between the two McLaren drivers. Here, Obakeng Meletse looks at three major talking points following the iconic Monte Carlo showdown.
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Norris finds his groove again
Lando Norris arrived in 2025 widely tipped to lead McLaren to their first drivers' championship title since Lewis Hamilton's triumph in 2008. Having wrapped up last year's constructors' title, the team from Surrey looked set to go one better this season.
While Norris started the year as the frontrunner, inconsistent qualifying performances had seen him slip behind his teammate Piastri in the standings. However, his victory in Monaco — his second of the season — was a timely reminder of his class.
He now trails the Australian by just three points in the championship race, and his confidence appears to be returning at just the right time.
Mercedes lose ground
Toto recaps our Sunday in Monaco 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/Dgoiv5KpCO — Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) May 25, 2025
Mercedes endured a forgettable weekend, as both Kimi Antonelli and George Russell struggled to make an impression during qualifying.
Antonelli's light brush with the barrier at the Nouvelle Chicane was symbolic of a weekend where little went right, while Russell's mechanical failure put him on the back foot for the rest of the weekend.
The duo's qualifying positions—14th and 15th — left them far from contention even before the lights went out. On a circuit notorious for limited overtaking, Mercedes failed to roll the dice with their strategy, opting for similar conservative approaches with both drivers.
As a result, their lackluster outing has opened the door for Red Bull, who are now just four points behind in the Constructors' standings heading into this weekend's Spanish Grand Prix.
Leclerc keeps Ferrari in the fight
Those special home podium moments 🏆 🍾 pic.twitter.com/WJPepqPX8x — Scuderia Ferrari HP (@ScuderiaFerrari) May 26, 2025
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