Why driving ‘smarter not quicker’ was key to F1 Monaco GP pole for Norris

Lando Norris put his Monaco Grand Prix pole result down to “driving smarter” rather than quicker, believing this was the first time since Formula 1’s 2025 season opener in Australia that he put together a satisfactory Q3 run.

McLaren chose to give Norris and team-mate Oscar Piastri two runs on their final set of tyres, which Norris pressed into service to first set a time of 1m10.125s, before improving to 1m09.954s on his second attempt and setting a new track record.

This ensured Norris collected his first pole since the season opener in Australia, ending a string of disappointing Saturdays that saw the Briton come under fire for failing to maximise the performance of his car over a single lap.

Norris said that his performance had come from a “mix” of different elements, including both improvements with the car and from himself. He said he is just as quick as he has been this season, but made the most of that in Monaco with his driving style.

“There’s probably a small mix of both of these things: from the car, and it being Monaco and a very different layout, and a very different style of driving that’s needed here,” Norris explained.

“It’s a lot more risk and commitment rather than just absolute car balance in a way. But there’s also things that I’ve been working on to improve to do a better job again – not because I’m not at the pace, but because I’m never putting it together come Q3.

“Today was probably the first time since Australia that I’ve really put it all together. It’s not like I’m driving quicker, I’m driving in a better way, in a smarter way. There’s lot of work that’s gone on.”

Norris said that his difficulties over 2025 mean that pole position in Monaco represents the result that means the most to him so far, although he conceded that this would have been the case at any other circuit.

He stopped short of saying that the result marked a breakthrough, however, and noted that he would only feel he’d turned the corner in qualifying if he could repeat the results at the following races in Barcelona and Montreal.

“For me, even if I was [on] pole in any other track, I think it probably would have been the pole that’s meant the most to me,” he said.

“It probably means even more that it’s Monaco, but more because of what’s happened over the last couple [of] months. It may not seem like a lot, but for me it’s quite a big thing. It’s a very, very good moment.

“I think to classify it as a breakthrough; I think you also need consistency of results. I can look at it both ways, and I can easily see the positives.

“It’s a breakthrough that I just I had a good Saturday, for me it’s at least a step in the right direction, which I’m very happy about.

“But it’s still one weekend, consistency is a big part of it too and I’ll be happier if I know that I can get to that point.”