McLaren have won the Monaco Grand Prix more often than any Formula 1 team, yet Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris eye the crew’s first win in the Principality in 17 years.
The Woking outfit last conquered the iconic streets of Monte Carlo back in the 2008 season, as Lewis Hamilton scored his second of five wins en route to his maiden F1 drivers’ title. The Briton’s triumph in 2008 was even the 15th time that a McLaren driver won the Monaco GP.
Norris could now earn his second victory of the 2025 F1 season on Sunday if the Briton gets his first Monaco GP win, as he also looks to win his first drivers’ title. Piastri has won four of the first seven Grands Prix this term, to lead the F1 drivers’ standings by 13 points to Norris.
Bernie Collins warns McLaren’s pit strategy at Imola ‘totally won’t work’ in the Monaco Grand Prix
Piastri had enjoyed a 16-point lead over Norris after winning the Miami Grand Prix, but saw his lead cut at Imola. McLaren pitted the 24-year-old on Lap 13 of 63 to try and put Red Bull under pressure to pit Max Verstappen, but Norris staying out until L28 gave a lasting benefit.
READ MORE: Seven unforgettable Monaco Grand Prix moments, including Ayrton Senna vs Nigel Mansell and Michael Schumacher’s controversy
McLaren felt forced to lock into a two-stop strategy early in the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix after Verstappen overtook Piastri to lead on Lap 1 at Imola. But stopping the Australian left him running in traffic, including having to pass Red Bull racer Yuki Tsunoda before he pitted.
Red Bull told Tsunoda to hold Piastri up at Imola, and Bernie Collins has told Sky Sports that team play will likely be a key point of contention during the Monaco GP this Sunday, as well. So, McLaren cannot pit Piastri or Norris into traffic if they want to win their 16th Monaco GP.
“Teams may use one car to open a gap for the other – especially if someone qualifies out of position,” Collins said. “I think we’re more likely to see it further back in the midfield, where one car doesn’t have much hope of finishing in the points and can help out his teammate.
“It’s obviously hard [and] it’ll be a bit more intricate with getting two pit-stop windows in. They may be fit to help at the first pit stop, but then not [be] able to help at the second pit stop because you’ll have hurt your race by doing it at one or the other stop.
“The teammate is always a risk in Monaco. We’ve seen last week [with] Oscar Piastri boxing and ending up behind Yuki Tsunoda. You absolutely have to avoid doing that at Monaco because the undercut totally won’t work out.”
Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris will rue a strategic error costing them a first Monaco GP win
The 2025 Monaco GP will see two mandatory pit stops, as F1 and the FIA have implemented a one-off rule change after last year’s race ultimately did not require any live pit stops due to a first-lap red flag. Drivers are obliged to run three sets of tyres, yet can still utilise a red flag.
READ MORE: The most successful drivers at the Formula 1 Monaco GP of all time
Having to potentially make two trips through the Monte Carlo pit lane might make or break a driver’s race, with strategy decisive for the outcome of the Monaco GP due to the circuit’s limited overtaking opportunities which could punish a team if they pit into traffic on Sunday.
Piastri and Norris would be especially frustrated if their chances to secure a first Monaco GP win evaporate due to a strategic mistake by McLaren, too. Both have taken podium finishes in the Principality in the past, with Norris finishing third in 2021 and Piastri second in 2024.
