McLaren F1 drivers Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, 2025. Photo: MPS AGENCY PHOTOSPORT
Max Verstappen's victory at Imola last weekend showed Red Bull's champion remains a force in the Formula One title battle, but this weekend's showcase Monaco Grand Prix should see McLaren regain the momentum.
Last year's home winner Charles Leclerc cannot be counted out, even with Ferrari's current qualifying woes, and nor can Mercedes but McLaren have won a record 15 times in Monaco and the slow, twisty circuit should suit their car.
The question is whether Oscar Piastri will increase his 13-point lead around the principality's metal-fenced streets, or if teammate Lando Norris can whittle away the Australian's advantage in the glamorous eighth round of the 24-race season.
Piastri was runner-up last year as Leclerc became the first Monegasque to win Monaco in the championship era while Norris was fourth and has managed only one past podium appearance, a third place in 2021.
Monaco can spring surprises, and the fastest car does not always win on a track where overtaking has been nearly impossible, and a mandatory second stop has now been added to try to shake things up.
Ferrari have had just one podium finish this season, Leclerc's third in Saudi Arabia, and Imola highlighted the team's lack of single-lap pace.
Mercedes also had a miserable time in Imola but George Russell's qualifying form could give him a shot at a podium.
His rookie teammate Kimi Antonelli will be one of six drivers taking on the challenge of Monaco for the first time in a Formula One car, although all are fully familiar with the layout from junior series.
New Zealander Liam Lawson is still chasing his first points of the season and qualifying will again be crucial to his chances of achieving that.
Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc after winning the 2024 Monaco Grand Prix. Photo: HOCH ZWEI PHOTOSPORT
Formula One statistics for the Monaco Formula One Grand Prix, round eight of the 24-race championship:
Lap distance: 3.337km. Total distance: 260.286km (78 laps)
2024 pole position: Charles Leclerc (Monaco) Ferrari one minute 10.270 seconds
2024 winner: Leclerc
Race lap record: Lewis Hamilton (Britain) Mercedes 1:12.909, 2021
Start time: 1300 GMT (1500 local)
Monaco
Leclerc last year became the first Monegasque to win at home since the championship started in 1950. It was also his first home podium appearance.
Monaco is the shortest and slowest track on the calendar, and the race with most laps. Only 34% of the lap is at full throttle.
The race will have a mandatory two pitstops this year in a bid to liven up the racing.
The 180-degree turn six hairpin is the slowest corner of the year, with cars taking it at 45kph.
This year's race is the 71st edition in championship history and 82nd since the first grand prix there in 1929.
The late triple world champion Ayrton Senna holds the record for most Monaco wins with six, including five in a row with McLaren between 1989 and 1993.
A safety car deployment is highly likely.
McLaren are the most successful team in Monaco, with 15 wins since their debut in 1966. Ferrari are next on 11.
In 1996, Frenchman Olivier Panis won from 14th on the grid -- the lowest winning start position to date. Since 1950, only 10 times has the race been won by a driver starting lower than third.
Four former Monaco winners will be racing on Sunday: Fernando Alonso (2006, 2007), Hamilton (2008, 2016, 2019), Max Verstappen (2021, 2023) and Leclerc (2024).
Verstappen's wins were races he led from start to finish.
Leclerc has been on pole three times in the last four years -- in 2021, 2022 and 2024. There was no race in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Three Australians have won in Monaco: Jack Brabham (1959), Mark Webber (2010, 2012) and Daniel Ricciardo (2018). Six British drivers have won since 1950, more than any other country.
Championship
McLaren's Oscar Piastri leads the drivers' championship by 13 points from teammate Lando Norris. Verstappen is nine points behind Norris.
Leaders and champions McLaren are 132 points clear of Mercedes and 148 ahead of Red Bull.
Race wins
Piastri has won four out of seven races, Verstappen two and Norris one.
Seven-times world champion Hamilton has a record 105 career victories from 363 starts. Verstappen has won 65 grands prix and is third on the all-time list after Michael Schumacher on 91.
Pole position
Piastri and Verstappen have both been on pole three times this season, Norris once.
Norris has started on the front row in three of seven races.
Hamilton has a record 104 career poles, his most recent in Hungary in 2023.
Podium
Both McLaren drivers have finished on the podium six times so far in 2025.
Points
Piastri, Norris, Verstappen and Mercedes' George Russell are the only drivers to have scored in every race this season.
Aston Martin's double world champion Alonso has yet to open his account and has finished 11th three times.
Milestone
Red Bull celebrated their 400th race last Sunday with Verstappen winning at Imola.
That race was also a 600th for Sauber, who debuted in 1993 and will compete as the Audi works team next season.
Imola was the first time Hamilton beat Leclerc in a regular grand prix as a Ferrari driver.
-Reuters
