Lando Norris makes strange admission about winning controversial Monaco GP

Daily Mirror

25-05-2025

The Monaco Grand Prix was won by Lando Norris but there was controversy further back as some drivers slowed others down on purpose, using the tight Monte Carlo streets to their advantage
Lando Norris partied in Monte Carlo last night as a proud Monaco Grand Prix winner – but admitted taking pole position on Saturday had meant more to him. The Brit locked up his tyres at the first corner but fended off Charles Leclerc and barely broke a sweat from there to win another processional Monaco race.
"It feels amazing. It's a long, gruelling race, but good fun," he smiled. "[Qualifying] was a big part of winning the race – it was a big moment for me, it was a big achievement to be on pole in Monaco and it obviously set me up for the race today.
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"It was a well-controlled race. There were many opportunities for things to happen, but the team and I handled things well and we won in Monaco! It's been a long time, and my mum and dad are here. It was special. It's been a big weekend for myself personally, but a big one for us as a team."
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Norris is now three points behind team-mate Oscar Piastri in the standings, having lost ground to the Aussie in recent weeks. His racecraft has not been under question but the Brit has left a lot on the table in qualifying, which is what made his Monaco pole so satisfying.
Norris added: "[Saturday] was a big day for me and I was probably more emotional yesterday getting pole than I am today winning the race. That's how much more yesterday meant, in a way. But both are great, good for me, my confidence and our motivation and momentum as a team."
Norris held off Charles Leclerc who was denied back-to-back victories in his homeland. "At the end of the day, we lost the race yesterday and we should have done a better job," the rueful Ferrari driver said. "Lando did a better job this weekend and he deserves to win. I realised my childhood dream last year.
"This year... I thought that being in the top 10 would be a challenge, but in the end we are second and very close to P1. It's been a good weekend overall, but I wish I won." Forcing all cars to make two stops did nothing to make the race any more interesting. It just allowed some drivers to deliberately slow others to help team-mates.
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That hampered others like George Russell who was punished for cutting a chicane in anger at being held up by Alex Albon. He finished pointless and said wetting the track might be the only way to spice up a "pretty silly" race. Max Verstappen, who finished fourth, joked that fitting cars with Mario Kart-style banana shooters would make it more fun.
Lewis Hamilton was one of the few drivers to make up places but said: "I was kind of in the middle of nowhere. With the penalty I started seventh, was behind two cars for some time and when I managed to clear them, I was in no man's land after that.
"The gap was relatively big and I was really not racing anyone. I needed a safety car or something to come into play, but it didn't happen. I didn't know what I was fighting for. But when I look at the actual data I wasn't anywhere near any of the guys up front. At least we went forward."