McLaren's Lando Norris wins Monaco Grand Prix
McLaren's Lando Norris celebrates after qualifying in pole position in the Formula One Australian Grand Prix Qualifying at Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit in Melbourne on March 15. PHOTO: REUTERS
Lando Norris secured his second Formula One victory of the season at the Monaco Grand Prix, converting pole position into a commanding win at the iconic street circuit.
The McLaren driver was followed by home favorite Charles Leclerc in second, while Norris's teammate Oscar Piastri completed the podium in third.
For the first time in Monaco's history, all drivers were required to make two mandatory pit stops.
This rule change introduced new strategic challenges, although its impact was somewhat lessened by team tactics that saw some drivers deliberately slow down to create gaps for their teammates to pit efficiently.
The race began with Leclerc challenging Norris into the opening corner. Despite locking up his front tyres, Norris maintained his lead.
Early drama unfolded when Gabriel Bortoleto crashed into the barrier, prompting a virtual safety car. Several drivers, including Yuki Tsunoda and Pierre Gasly, pitted during this period. However, Gasly later collided with Tsunoda, damaging his car but managing to return to the pits.
During the first round of pit stops, teams employed strategic games. For instance, Isack Hadjar used his teammate Liam Lawson's deliberate slow pace to clear a gap, allowing Hadjar to complete both mandatory stops by lap 20. Similarly,
Williams orchestrated position swaps between Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz to optimize their pit sequences.
Despite some hiccups, such as Lewis Hamilton's slow stop, the top contenders remained largely unchanged after the first stops, with Verstappen last among them to pit and maintaining a strong position.
As the race progressed, retirements and penalties influenced the order. Alonso retired with power unit issues, while George Russell received a drive-through penalty after overtaking off-track.
Verstappen extended his stint but eventually dropped to fourth after his final stop, leaving Norris, Leclerc, and Piastri to battle for the podium.
Hamilton finished fifth, ahead of rookie Hadjar, who achieved his best result to date. Esteban Ocon and Lawson also scored well, with Williams rounding out the top ten.
Norris's win narrows the gap to championship leader Oscar Piastri to just three points, setting up an exciting title battle as the season moves to its next round in Spain.
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