Norris starts on pole for Monaco Grand Prix as Leclerc predicts strategy 'chaos'
MONACO (AP) — Lando Norris has his first Formula 1 pole position in more than two months at the Monaco Grand Prix. Now he needs his first win since then to boost his title chances.
There usually is no better place to be on pole position than Monaco, where overtaking is near-impossible, but a new rule change could shake up everything.
Drivers will have to change tires at least twice in Sunday's race, adding an uncertain element of strategy to what was a one-stop procession last year.
Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, last year's winner, starts second alongside Norris and is predicting a chaotic race.
'I think it's going to be a bit of chaos tomorrow, but we'll see how it plays out,' he said after qualifying.
'I think there'll be a lot of strategy games, and we'll see who comes out on top. But I think we might be under pressure from cars that we probably don't expect, from the back, which might make everything interesting. We'll see.'
Potentially, teams could seek to gamble by making two early stops and hope to leapfrog rivals later, or else take a chance on a safety car or red flag making it possible to change tires without losing places.
___
AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing
The Associated Press
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Associated Press
22 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Olympic star, 3-time pro champion Vasiliy Lomachenko announces retirement from boxing
Vasiliy Lomachenko has announced his retirement from boxing after a decorated career that included two Olympic gold medals and professional world titles in three weight classes. Lomachenko announced his decision with a video on social media Thursday. 'I am grateful for every victory and every defeat, both in the ring and in life,' Lomachenko said. 'I'm thankful that as my career comes to an end, I've gained clarity about the direction a person must take in order to achieve true victory.' The Ukrainian star burst onto the international boxing scene at the Beijing Olympics in 2008, when the 20-year-old prospect steamrolled the competition. He showed off athleticism, footwork and ring intelligence far beyond his years, clearly marking himself as a once-in-a-generation talent. But he eschewed the professional sport and returned to win gold at the London Games four years later alongside Oleksandr Usyk, his close friend and the future undisputed professional world heavyweight champion. After going 396-1 as an amateur, Lomachenko finally embarked on a pro career largely spent in the U.S. Lomachenko won the WBO featherweight title in his third professional fight in June 2014, beating Gary Russell Jr. after ordering his promoters to get him a near-immediate title shot after turning pro. He won the junior lightweight belt in 2016 by stopping Román Martínez, and he added the WBA lightweight world title in 2018, stopping Jorge Linares. Lomachenko finished his pro career 18-3 with 12 stoppage victories, incurring late-career decision losses to Teofimo Lopez and Devin Haney. 'It's been an honor for all of us at Top Rank to promote the pro boxing career of Vasiliy Lomachenko,' said Bob Arum, Lomachenko's U.S. promoter. 'He was a generational champion, and we will all miss his participation in the sport.' Lomachenko paused his career for several months after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and he has fought only three times since 2021. He stopped George Kambosos Jr. in the 11th round of his final bout in May 2024. ___ AP boxing:
Washington Post
33 minutes ago
- Washington Post
French Open: Coco Gauff beats Loïs Boisson to set up a 1 vs. 2 final against Aryna Sabalenka
PARIS — Coco Gauff reached her second final at Roland-Garros by beating Loïs Boisson 6-1, 6-2 on Thursday to end the surprising, upset-filled run by a French wild-card entry who is ranked No. 361. The victory by No. 2 Gauff sets up a blockbuster championship match against No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka on Saturday.
Associated Press
42 minutes ago
- Associated Press
French Open: Swiatek says chair umpire's refusal to inspect a mark was unfair
Updated [hour]:[minute] [AMPM] [timezone], [monthFull] [day], [year] PARIS (AP) — Iga Swiatek said it's unfair that the chair umpire refused her request to climb down and inspect a mark during her semifinal loss to top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka at the French Open on Thursday. The incident happened when Swiatek was 4-2 up in the second set and with Sabalenka serving on Court Philippe-Chatrier. After Sabalenka's first serve landed out, Swiatek stood still for moment before pointing her left finger at the mark while asking French chair umpire Kader Nouni to climb down and inspect it. 'I want him to come down, but he didn't. So I don't think that was fair, especially when he came down, like, every time Aryna asked him to. I don't get it, but I don't really care,' said Swiatek, whose 26-match French Open unbeaten streak ended a 7-6 (1), 4-6, 6-0 loss. 'When I had a mark that was out, he was convincing me that I only came there because I saw that my return was out.' After a brief exchange, Swiatek gave up. She walked back into position to receive three-time major winner Sabalenka's second serve, albeit with a wry smile on her face. ___ AP tennis:
