By: Kwame Bediako
British McLaren driver Lando Norris claimed his second victory of the season at the Monaco Grand Prix, executing a flawless double pit stop in the race’s new format.
Norris’s strategic prowess and skillful driving allowed him to maintain his lead and secure the win on the challenging streets of Monte Carlo, marking a significant highlight in his racing career this year.
Charles Leclerc finished second on his home turf, impressing the local crowd with a strong performance. His teammate, Oscar Piastri, driving for McLaren, completed the podium in third place, just ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen in fourth. Lewis Hamilton also finished fifth, adding another strong result to his season’s campaign.
The race saw intense drama, especially with Dutch driver Verstappen, who was leading until the final stages. He had yet to make his second pit stop and was hoping for a red flag to avoid a penalty. Norris faced a challenging start, nearly locking up his front tyres, but managed to stay ahead as the rest of the top ten remained largely unchanged early on.
Chaos erupted when Gabriel Bortoleto crashed nose-first into the barriers at Portier, triggering a virtual safety car and prompting a flurry of pit stops from drivers like Ollie Bearman, Pierre Gasly and Yuki Tsunoda. Gasly’s race ended abruptly after he collided with Tsunoda, leaving his wheel hanging and losing his brakes, which brought an early end to his race.
