© Getty ImagesThe 2025 Monaco Grand Prix Race ReportA Mixed-Up Monaco Grand Prix sees a P4 and P17 finish for Max & Yuki.
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When the lights went out at the start, pole sitter Lando Norris shrugged off a Turn 1 lock-up to take the lead ahead of front-row rival Charles Leclerc. Behind them, Max also made a good start, but although he was able to draw alongside Oscar Piastri into Sainte Devote, the Australian held firm, and Max had to slot back into fourth place as they made their way up the hill to Casino Square.
Smooth through Sainte Devote© Getty Images
As the field rolled through the hairpin and into Portier, Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto was squeezed by Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli and the Brazilian nosed into the barriers. He was quickly able to get going again but a Virtual Safety Car was deployed.
Tamed the tight twist© Getty Images
Under the VSC the team took the chance to pit Yuki, and after fitting a set of Hard tyres, the Japanese driver emerged in P17 with just one more stop to make in the race. However, as the strategies around him played out and the drivers ahead also delayed their stops, the early tyre switch failed to push Yuki up the order. When the VSC ended, the field resumed in order, with Lando holding his lead ahead of Charles and Oscar, and with Max in P5 ahead Racing Bull driver Isack Hadjar.
Lights Out, Smoke's Out© Getty Images
On lap eight, Yuki was almost taken out of the race. Alpine’s Pierre Gasly, who had also pitted under the VSC and emerged in P18, apparently suffered brake failure on the exit of the tunnel and he slammed into the right rear wheel of Yuki’s car. The Red Bull driver was able to continue, but Gasly, with broken front suspension, went skidding through the Nouvelle Chicane. The Frenchman was able to limp back to the pit lane and racing continued, with no damage to Yuki’s car.
Yuki & Gasly Have A Knock© Getty Images
Isack was the first of the front runners to pit, on lap 15. That sparked a reaction from the drivers ahead and on lap 19 Lando dived in from the lead for Hard tyres. Attempting to undercut Charles, McLaren then pitted Oscar, but Ferrari reacted and when Charles pitted on lap 22 and rejoined ahead of Oscar, Max took the lead, 10.5 seconds clear of Lando but in need of a first pit stop. The champion soon reported that his starting tyres were beginning to suffer and on lap 29 he came into the pits to swap his starting Hard tyres for a set of Mediums. He slotted back into fourth place, four seconds behind Oscar.
On lap 37, Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso suddenly pulled over at Rascasse with smoke coming from the back on his car, handing a place to those behind. The Spaniard was able to ease his car through a gap in the barriers, however, and avoided any potential safety car.
Best Seats In The House© Getty Images
At half distance, Lando began to stretch away from the chasing pack and by lap 42 the McLaren driver had built a six-second gap back to Charles who was nine seconds ahead of Oscar who was struggling for grip. On lap 45, the Australian slid wide and almost hit the barriers at Sainte Devote, and Max closed to just over a second behind the second McLaren.
The Crowd Watches On© Getty Images
McLaren brought Oscar in for his second stop on lap 49. Charles also pitted on the same lap and on lap 50 Lando made his final stop of the race. That pushed Max back into the lead and clinging on to his Medium tyres, the champion hung it out, hoping for a late Safety Car.
The Red Bull driver’s gamble meant that he gradually backed Lando towards Charles and the Ferrari driver began to put pressure on the McLaren driver. But neither his wish for a mistake from Lando or Max’s hope of a Safety Car materialised and after Yuki made his second mandatory stop on lap 76 and dropped down to 17th, Max made his final stop on the penultimate lap dropping down to 4th place.
Lando was able to pull away from Charles and Oscar on the final lap and after 78 laps he took victory ahead of the McLarens, with Max just behind them in fourth place. Fifth place went to the second Ferrari of Lewis Hamilton, who jumped Isack when the VCARB driver made his two stops in quick succession early in the race. Behind the French driver, Haas’ Esteban Ocon took seventh place ahead of the second VCARB of Liam Lawson and the final two points positions went to the Williams pair of Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz.
