Norris Secures Pole at Monaco Grand Prix, Signaling McLaren’s Progress
Lando Norris clinched pole position for the 2025 Monaco Grand Prix, a significant achievement that suggests he has made strides in aligning with McLaren’s MCL39. The British driver outpaced Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc by a mere 0.1 seconds, while teammate Oscar Piastri qualified third, 0.175 seconds off the pace.
This marks Norris’s second pole of the season, his first since the Australian Grand Prix, where he initially showcased his potential. However, since then, Piastri had outperformed Norris with four victories, leading to a period of introspection for the McLaren team.
Team principal Andrea Stella emphasized the importance of this qualifying session, noting how critical it is for Norris and Piastri to extract the car’s full capabilities. “It’s an important step in the process… We had a few bits of information that we could process and extract some adaptations,” Stella stated.
Norris had previously expressed difficulties in developing a rapport with the car, struggling with predictability in its responses. Stella remarked on Norris’s newfound consistency, particularly in Q3, which had previously been a weak point for the team. “The merit is entirely Lando’s… Monte Carlo is an excellent testing ground for speed and consistency,” he added.
While pleased with the progress, Stella acknowledged that there remains potential for further improvements in car predictability, particularly on the front axle. Piastri, despite his strong qualifying performance, also faced challenges, specifically in navigating Monaco’s Nouvelle Chicane.
Looking ahead, both drivers and their engineering teams appear poised to refine the MCL39’s performance, hinting at further competitive potential in upcoming races. As Stella concluded, “I sense that there is quite a lot more to be extracted,” setting the stage for an exciting continuation of the season.
