First driver to go sub-70 at Monte Carlo as Ferrari bounce back, McLaren go bold, and Mercedes wave the white flag
In a sensational Monaco qualifying session filled with drama, redemption, penalties, and outright brilliance, Lando Norris delivered a historic 1:09.954 to become the first Formula 1 driver in history to lap Monaco in under 70 seconds. It marked:
- McLaren’s first Monaco pole since 2007
- A shot at their first win here since 2008
- Norris’s 11th career pole, tying him with Kimi Räikkönen for 5th-most in McLaren history
This lap wasn’t just quick, it was iconic. It came at the end of a session where Leclerc had looked untouchable all weekend, only for Lando to put together the cleanest, gutsiest, most technically complete lap of the year in Sector 3 when it mattered most.
Ferrari Fixes Their Flaw
Ferrari’s pace this weekend owes everything to a simple but critical fix: adjusting their rear wing setup. The result was an immediate transformation in balance and traction, catapulting them back toward the front.
Leclerc, who starts P2, looked relaxed and optimistic, especially after being reminded that history has shown in past Monaco races where Ferrari started P2 behind McLaren and still took the win:
“Let’s go babyyyy! That gives me a lot of confidence now.”
McLaren’s Perfect Setup: Piastri P3, Team Chemistry High
Oscar Piastri starts P3 and helped McLaren lock out the clean side of the grid. After qualifying, he joked:
“How much are you gonna pay me?” — when asked if he’d help Lando win.
Norris returned the jab:
“Charles just told me he’d help Lewis get the win.”
The humor belied the performance, McLaren now has two legitimate contenders in strategic positions for Sunday, especially with the required 2 stop strategy.
Alonso’s Joy, Hadjar’s Breakout
Fernando Alonso reminded fans why he’s a beloved figure in the sport with his post-session radio, stating with pure joy and proof that even in a car that isn’t top tier, the magic of Monaco is alive for a veteran who still feels 25 at this track:
“I love driving!”
Isack Hadjar delivered the best qualifying of his F1 career with P6, showcasing immense confidence through the trickiest corners. Monaco rewards bravery, and Hadjar showed maturity well beyond his experience.
Verstappen: “Pole Was Never in the Cards”
Max Verstappen was outqualified for the first time in 2025 and openly admitted he was never in contention:
“No, absolutely not. I think already in FP3, we had some limitations. […] We just couldn’t ride the kerbs and all the compressions in Sector 2.”
His P4 starting position is better than expected, given he was also impeded by Lewis Hamilton in Q2.
Penalties Hit Hamilton and Stroll
- Lewis Hamilton was handed a 3-place grid penalty for impeding Verstappen in Q2, dropping him to P7.
- Lance Stroll received a 3-place drop for blocking Gasly in Q1 — made worse by the fact he confused Gasly for Leclerc due to the sun. He’ll start P19.
Both penalties were earned and reflect the chaos of trying to find space on a 3.3km circuit crammed with 20 cars.
Mercedes Collapse: “Monaco GP Is Over for Us”
George Russell, after stopping on track with a power failure that caused a red flag in Q2, summed up Mercedes’ weekend with brutal honesty:
“The Monaco GP is over for Mercedes.”
With both cars out in Q2 for the first time since Imola 2022, it was a clear sign that the Silver Arrows are not in the fight this weekend.
Tsunoda Walks, Antonelli Misses Cut
Yuki Tsunoda, furious after missing Q3 by mere hundredths, refused media interviews and muttered:
“Don’t ask me anything.”
Kimi Antonelli, still recovering from his Q1 crash, qualified P15, respectable but not representative of the raw pace he’d shown earlier in the weekend.
Drone Cam Becomes Monaco’s New MVP
F1’s new static aerial drone cam revolutionized Monaco’s broadcast. Positioned over the Swimming Pool and Rascasse, it provided a view of Norris’s record-breaking lap that made you feel every millimeter of his margin.
It didn’t just show speed, it showed mastery.
Official Starting Grid – Monaco GP 2025 (After Penalties):
- Lando Norris (McLaren)
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
- Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls)
- Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)
- Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) (after 3-place penalty)
- Esteban Ocon (Haas)
- Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls)
- Alexander Albon (Williams)
Final Word
Lando Norris made history. Ferrari fixed their rear wing, and found their footing. Piastri joked his way to P3. Alonso smiled like it was 2006. Hadjar proved he belongs. Max told the truth. Hamilton and Stroll paid the price. Tsunoda stormed off. Russell gave up. And the drone cam deserves its own Constructors’ point.
Sunday’s Monaco Grand Prix has a lot to live up to, because Saturday already delivered a classic.