Lando Norris qualifies on pole for Monaco GP in record time

MONACO (AP) — Lando Norris beat the Monaco track record, his main Formula 1 rival and a local hero to take pole position on Saturday.

Perhaps most importantly, Norris made a breakthrough in his own struggles with F1 qualifying, which have hampered his championship chances against McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri.

“It's been a long time coming,” said Norris, who hadn't been on pole since the season-opening Australian Grand Prix.

“I don’t think I’ve ever doubted what I can do. Of course, I’ve got frustrated, I’ve been unhappy, because that’s normal," Norris added. "If you don’t win, if you don’t get pole, you’re not going to be happy, especially when it’s where you should be, it’s what the objective is.”

Norris and Monaco local Charles Leclerc swapped the fastest times before Norris upped the pace again to take first by .109 of a second. Piastri was third.

Norris' time of 1 minute, 9.954 seconds replaced a record set by Lewis Hamilton in 2019.

It comes as Norris tries to cut into Piastri's 13-point standings lead and follows weeks of frustration in qualifying — sometimes from small mistakes, but also a dramatic crash in Saudi Arabia last month. Leclerc, who won the Monaco GP last year, was denied a fourth career pole at his home race.

Leclerc said Monaco’s slow and twisty layout allowed Ferrari to dodge some of the “compromises” it’s had to make with its setup at more varied tracks.

Defending champion Max Verstappen, the winner of the Emilia-Romagna GP last week, was fifth for Red Bull after predicting Monaco’s low-speed nature wouldn’t suit his car, but starts fourth because of a penalty for Lewis Hamilton.

Qualifying has typically been more important at Monaco than anywhere else on the F1 calendar. It's almost impossible to overtake on the narrow streets so grid position is vital.

It could be a little different this time because drivers will be required to change tires at least twice during the race.

“I don’t think anyone really knows what to expect," Piastri said.

That rule change follows a dull race last year when an early red flag allowed all drivers to make their mandatory pit stop. The race finished with the top 10 all in the same order that they started the race.

A radio mix-up cost seven-time world champion Hamilton, as he was dropped from fourth to seventh on the grid for getting in Verstappen's way.

In the first part of qualifying, Hamilton was told by the Ferrari team that Verstappen was on a slower lap, when the Dutch driver was actually trying to set a competitive time.

Hamilton was obliged to make way for the faster car, but the miscommunication meant the British driver was in Verstappen's way on the racing line, landing him a three-place grid penalty for impeding.

Until then, Hamilton's fourth place seemed a strong recovery following a crash in practice which required a major rebuild of his Ferrari.

It was a session to forget for Mercedes as its cars caused two red flags.

George Russell is set to start 14th after his car broke down in the tunnel with a suspected electrical problem, causing a lengthy stoppage while it was pushed out of the way by a track marshal crew. His 18-year-old teammate Kimi Antonelli hit the wall and was 15th.

Haas rookie Oliver Bearman qualified 17th but dropped to the back of the grid because of a 10-place penalty imposed on Friday for overtaking under red flags when practice was stopped.

AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing

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)

McLaren driver Oscar Piastri of Australia, right, congratulates McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain for his pole position after 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)

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)

McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain celebrates his pole position after 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)

MOUNT MAUNGANUI, New Zealand (AP) — Tom Latham took a close look at the pitch at Bay Oval Thursday and made the inspired decision to bat first.

Inspired ultimately because at stumps New Zealand was 334-1 against West Indies, Devon Conway was 178 not out and nightwatchman Jacob Duffy was 9.

Latham and Conway put on 323 for New Zealand's first wicket in a partnership that ended just three overs from stumps when Latham was out for 137. The partnership was New Zealand's second-highest opening stand in tests and the highest for all wickets and all teams in 2025.

Latham faced 245 balls before falling to a slip catch shortly after the arrival of the second new ball. Conway faced 279 deliveries, batted throughout the day and at stumps was approaching his highest test score — his 200 on debut against England in 2021.

Latham's decision to bat first was bold because the pitch was unusually green for Bay Oval. Bold because he had to back his play, pad up and bat first.

Inspired also because the pitch's appearance was deceptive. It was much drier under its carpet of grass than it outwardly appeared. West Indies had planned to bowl first, anyway.

“I guess we left the decision about what we were going to do a bit longer than we usually do,” Latham said. "We were going back and forth and we obviously ended up going with a spinner and decided to bat first.

“It was obviously a great day, a great partnership between Dev and myself and I'm obviously happy with the day's work.”

New Zealand captains don't usually choose to bat first after winning the toss in tests at home. The last time, before Latham took that gamble Thursday, was 14 years ago in January, 2011 when Daniel Vettori chose to bat against Pakistan at the Basin Reserve. Vettori made 110 in the first innings of that match as the gamble paid off for the captain on that occasion as well.

The last time both openers scored centuries in a test for New Zealand was in 2019 when Latham made 161 and Jeet Raval 132 against Bangladesh in Hamilton. That was an opening stand of 200 or more, of which there have been only six for New Zealand. Latham has been part of two.

At 277, Thursday's partnership between Latham and Conway became the second highest for the first wicket for New Zealand, overtaking the 276 between Stu Dempster and Jackie Mills against England at Wellington in 1930.

At 304, it became the highest partnership for any test wicket in this calendar year.

The pitch wasn't lifeless Thursday. There was seam movement early and bounce for most of the day. Kemar Roach and Jayden Seales discharged their opening spells with the new ball cheaply: Roach conceded 12 runs from six overs and Seales 10 runs from five overs.

But West Indies made the decision to select an extra batter — Alick Athanaze — at the expense of a bowler and as the New Zealand openers batted on and on, the toll on the attack of three seamers, one allrounder and one spinner became intense.

The West Indies bowled good balls throughout the day — Latham was dropped on 104 by wicketkeeper Tevin Imlach off Anderson Phillips — but there were not enough good balls in succession to create pressure.

Conway's century came from 147 balls and included 17 boundaries. It was the sixth century of his career, the second in his last six innings but only the third in his last 39 innings.

Latham batted with immense patience to reach his 15th test century, his second of the series, from 183 balls with nine fours and a six.

New Zealand leads the three-match series 1-0 after the first test was drawn and the Black Caps won the second by nine wickets.

AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

New Zealand's Tom Latham bats against the West Indies on day 3 during their cricket test match in Christchurch, New Zealand, Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025. (Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)