MONACO (AP) — Here's a guide that tells you what you need to know about Sunday's Monaco Grand Prix. It's the eighth round of the 2025 Formula 1 season.
— In the U.S., on ESPN.
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McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain steers his car during the qualifying session ahead of the Formula One Monaco Grand Prix race at the Monaco racetrack in Monaco, Saturday, May 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc of Monaco steers his car during the qualifying session ahead of the Formula One Monaco Grand Prix race at the Monaco racetrack in Monaco, Saturday, May 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain steers his car during the first free practice ahead of the Formula One Monaco Grand Prix race at the Monaco racetrack in Monaco, Friday, May 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain steers his car during the second free practice ahead of the Formula One Monaco Grand Prix race at the Monaco racetrack in Monaco, Friday, May 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands celebrates on the podium after winning the Italian Emilia Romagna Formula One Grand Prix, at the Enzo and Dino Ferrari racetrack in Imola, Italy, Sunday, May 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands celebrates on the podium after winning the Italian Emilia Romagna Formula One Grand Prix, flanked with McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain, left, and McLaren driver Oscar Piastri of Australia, at the Enzo and Dino Ferrari racetrack in Imola, Italy, Sunday, May 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
— Other countries are listed here.
— Sunday: Monaco Grand Prix, 78 laps of the 3.34-kilometer (2.07-mile) Monaco circuit. Starts at 3 p.m. local time (9 a.m. ET / 1300 GMT).
Tight, twisty and not really suited to modern F1 cars, Monaco is a throwback to the series origins in the 1950s. With old-school glamor and a harbor filled with luxury yachts, Monaco is known as “the jewel in the crown” of F1, but it's by far the slowest circuit of the year. Overtaking is so difficult that Saturday's qualifying session is arguably more important than the race. With barriers close to the track, even the smallest mistake can mean a crash.
Max Verstappen gave his title defense a big boost by beating McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri to win the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix. Verstappen overtook Piastri around the outside at the start in a daring move and controlled the rest of the race with strong pace and smart strategy. Norris overtook Piastri for second place late in the race to cut his teammate's standings lead.
Lando Norris of McLaren produced a track-record lap time with his last attempt to beat local hero Charles Leclerc to pole position. Norris was relieved to take pole for the first time since the season-opening Australian Grand Prix in March and had been increasingly frustrated by a tendency to make mistakes when it mattered most in qualifying. Standings leader Oscar Piastri qualified third and Max Verstappen starts fourth after moving up a spot because of a three-place penalty for Lewis Hamilton. Mercedes is set for a tough day with George Russell 14th and Kimi Antonelli 15th on the grid.
Get caught up:
— Lando Norris qualifies on pole for Monaco GP in record time
— F1 hopes extra pit stops bring more excitement in the glamorous but dull Monaco Grand Prix
— Red Bull driver Max Verstappen wins F1’s Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix to end Piastri’s streak
— Lewis Hamilton celebrates a fourth place which highlights Ferrari’s tough season in F1
15 — McLaren is by far the most successful team ever in Monaco with 15 wins. But the last of those was 17 years ago, when a young Lewis Hamilton took the victory.
2 — A rule change means drivers will need to make at least two pit stops for tires this year.
93 — Leclerc's victory last year was the first time in 93 years that a driver from Monaco won the Monaco Grand Prix. Louis Chiron won in 1931, 19 years before the F1 world championship was founded.
“I don’t think you realize how good this (pole) feels. Quite a few struggles over the last couple months. Especially here in Monaco, it’s a beautiful place, the hardest track probably to do it, up against the hometown hero as well.” — Lando Norris.
“I think it’s going to be a bit of chaos (in the race), but we’ll see how it plays out. I think there’ll be a lot of strategy games.” — Charles Leclerc.
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McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain steers his car during the qualifying session ahead of the Formula One Monaco Grand Prix race at the Monaco racetrack in Monaco, Saturday, May 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc of Monaco steers his car during the qualifying session ahead of the Formula One Monaco Grand Prix race at the Monaco racetrack in Monaco, Saturday, May 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain steers his car during the first free practice ahead of the Formula One Monaco Grand Prix race at the Monaco racetrack in Monaco, Friday, May 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain steers his car during the second free practice ahead of the Formula One Monaco Grand Prix race at the Monaco racetrack in Monaco, Friday, May 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands celebrates on the podium after winning the Italian Emilia Romagna Formula One Grand Prix, at the Enzo and Dino Ferrari racetrack in Imola, Italy, Sunday, May 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands celebrates on the podium after winning the Italian Emilia Romagna Formula One Grand Prix, flanked with McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain, left, and McLaren driver Oscar Piastri of Australia, at the Enzo and Dino Ferrari racetrack in Imola, Italy, Sunday, May 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
