Lando Norris turned the streets of Monte Carlo into a private playground on Sunday, clinching a commanding victory on the Monaco Grand Prix and slicing Oscar Piastri’s Formula One result in simply three factors – whereas a brand new double pit-stop rule designed to spice issues up barely moved the needle.
Starting from pole, the McLaren driver briefly locked up into Turn 1 however shortly settled right into a relentless rhythm, staving off a late surge from Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc to assert his first Grand Prix win since Australia.
“It feels amazing – a long, gruelling race,” stated Norris, after bagging his maiden Monaco victory and sixth profession win. “This is what we dream of as kids.”
Leclerc, final yr’s winner on dwelling soil, stored Norris trustworthy within the remaining laps however couldn’t discover daylight on a circuit infamous for shutting doorways.
Piastri, who began and completed third, noticed his championship lead dwindle as defending world champion Max Verstappen settled for fourth.
Despite the much-hyped two-stop regulation meant to shake up Monaco’s static processions, the highest 4 completed simply as they began.
Hamilton’s hustle
Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton, demoted to seventh on the grid after a qualifying penalty, was one of many few movers, climbing to fifth after a well-timed first cease on Lap 19.
Racing Bulls rookie Isack Hadjar shone in sixth – his greatest end result but – due to a daring early two-stop technique.
Fernando Alonso bowed out midway with smoke billowing from his Aston Martin, although he expertly parked it out of hurt’s solution to keep away from triggering a security automotive.
Further down, George Russell’s gamble to delay his stops backfired as he acquired a penalty for gaining a bonus off-track.
He completed eleventh, whereas teammate Kimi Antonelli languished in 18th after a nightmare qualifying.
Glitzy venue, uninteresting script
F1 officers had hoped to revive Monaco’s thrill issue with a compulsory second cease, however overtaking – the circuit’s everlasting Achilles’ heel – remained elusive. Crashes had been minimal, and the entrance runners largely ran unchallenged after Lap 1, when a squeezed Gabriel Bortoleto tagged the wall, prompting a quick digital security automotive.
Another yellow adopted on Lap 9 after Pierre Gasly’s Alpine misplaced a entrance wheel in a collision. Still, the race lacked the chaos that has so typically been Monaco’s equalizer.
Piastri, Leclerc, and Norris all pitted for a second time between Laps 49-50, whereas Verstappen stretched his second cease to Lap 77 of 78, giving Leclerc a glimpse at Norris however not sufficient time or tarmac.
“We lost it yesterday,” Leclerc admitted, pointing to qualifying because the true decider. “Lando did a better job – he deserves it.”
Spain awaits subsequent weekend, with McLaren driving momentum and the title race tightening.
Source: www.dailysabah.com