Lando Norris attributed his Monaco Grand Prix pole result to driving smarter rather than quicker, marking the first satisfactory Q3 run for him since the 2025 season opener in Australia. McLaren opted to give Norris and teammate Oscar Piastri two runs on their final set of tires, allowing Norris to set a new track record with a time of 1m09.954s on his second attempt. This pole position ended a series of disappointing Saturdays for Norris, where he faced criticism for not fully utilizing his car’s potential over a single lap.
Norris credited his improved performance in Monaco to a combination of factors, including enhancements with the car and his own driving. While acknowledging that he has maintained his speed throughout the season, he emphasized making the most of it through his driving style in Monaco’s unique layout. Despite the significance of securing pole in Monaco given his recent challenges, Norris refrained from labeling it a breakthrough, indicating that consistency in upcoming races at Barcelona and Montreal would truly validate his progress.
Reflecting on the emotional importance of the Monaco pole, Norris stressed the need for sustained success to cement any breakthrough status, underscoring the value of achieving results beyond a single standout performance. This milestone, while a positive step forward, serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining high performance levels across different circuits to solidify his improvement in qualifying.
