McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain celebrates his pole position after the qualifying session ahead of the Formula One Monaco Grand Prix race at the Monaco racetrack in Monaco, Saturday, May 24, 2025. -- AP Photo/Manu Fernandez
MONACO (dpa): McLaren's Lando Norris set a lap record when topping a thrilling qualifying session for Sunday's Monaco Formula One Grand Prix.
Team-mate and championship leader Oscar Piastri broke the record, only for the Briton to beat it just seconds later. Ferrari's Charles Leclerc - who topped all three practice sessions - then went even quicker.
But with time expiring on Saturday, Norris managed a remarkable 1 minute 09.954 seconds to put himself on pole and in a great position for the race. It was a first pole in Monaco for McLaren since 2007.
The top 10 in the race last year was the same top 10 from qualifying, underlining the difficulties of overtaking on the famous twisting, street circuit.
This year drivers must make at least two pit stops in the principality to boost excitement.
Norris, after a 12th pole position and second this season, said: "It’s been a long time coming, I feel good, I don’t think you realize how good this feels with quite a few struggles over the last couple of months, especially here in Monaco, it’s a beautiful place and the hardest track probably to do it."
Leclerc, who will be second on the grid in his home race, added: "I'm proud of the result today as on paper it was going to be a difficult weekend for us. But in the end it's not that bad."
Behind Piastri in third, Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton was fourth fastest having clipped the wall by the casino late in the third practice session and needing a new gearbox for qualifying.
Red Bull's world champion Max Verstappen, who fended off the McLarens to win the last race in Imola, will be fifth on the grid alongside impressive Racing Bulls rookie Isack Hadjar.
Mercedes' George Russell came to a stop in the tunnel with an apparent electrical problem to red flag Q2 and place only 14th.
Team-mate Kimi Antonelli crashed in Q1 shortly after exiting the tunnel. He had already managed a time to reach Q2 but his car was too damaged to continue and he will start 15th on Sunday's grid.
It was the first time since Imola 2022 that both Mercedes cars failed to reach Q3.
Ferrari have struggled so far this season, despite the addition of seven-time world champion Hamilton to their line-up. Their only podium finish this year was Leclerc's third place in Saudi Arabia in April.
But the Italian outfit will hope Monegasque Leclerc can somehow get past Norris, on pit stops if needed.
Failure to comply with the two pit-stop rule in Monaco will result in disqualification.
Lance Stroll of Aston Martin is carrying a grid penalty for Sunday's grand prix for causing a collision with Leclerc in first practice on Friday.
Haas driver Ollie Bearman, who like Stroll went out in Q1, will join him at the back of the grid after a 10-place penalty following a red flag breach during second practice.
Piastri tops the drivers' standings with 146 points, 13 ahead of Norris. - dpa
