Norris surprised: New rule change and conquers the top in Spain!

Norris surprised: New rule change and conquers the top in Spain!

Montmelo, Spanien - On May 30, 2025, the Grand Prix of Monaco took place, in which Lando Norris once again demonstrated its strength. The McLaren pilot was not only able to secure the first place in the qualification, but also crowned his Sunday with the victory, whereby he left Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) and Oscar Piatri, his teammates. Norris showed an impressive performance and thus underlined his claims in the current season.

Already in the first free training in Montmelo, Spain, Norris was able to achieve the best time of 1: 13.718 minutes, which exceeded Max Verstappen (Red Bull) by 0.367 seconds. Lewis Hamilton followed in third place, 0.378 seconds behind Norris, while Leclerc finished fourth with 0.520 seconds. Oscar Piatri, the current World Cup leader, secured fifth place, 0.576 seconds behind his teammate. George Russell (Mercedes), on the other hand, had to deal with only eleventh place, 1.033 seconds behind Norris.

new rules and their effects

The Formula 1 season 2025 is characterized by various changes of rule that affect both drivers and teams. The new, stricter controls for front wings that came into force at the Grand Prix of Spain are particularly remarkable. These changes are part of a wider control reform that also provides adjustments to the rear wing. So there are new flexibility tests: the main wing may not bend more than 6 mm under load, and the DRS mechanism must comply with certain fixed conditions.

In addition, the minimum weight of the driver was increased by 2 kg, so that the total weight of a Formula 1 car is now 800 kg. At high temperatures, the weight should even rise by 5 kg. These rules of control were also created in response to previous controversy via flexible aerodynamics, which caused excitement in 2024. Motorsport.com reports that the new season in Australia and the drivers had to adjust to more strict regulations.

strategic considerations for the races

For the Monaco Grand Prix there is a new rule that prescribes two mandatory pit stops. The drivers have to use at least three different tire rates, including two different Slick tire mixtures. This rule could strongly influence the teams' racing strategies, since Pirelli has already pointed out that "everything can happen". The majority of the drivers are expected to start with medium tires, while prominent names such as Verstappen, Alonso and Hamilton rely on hard tires.

The Grand Prix of Monaco is not only a challenge for the drivers because of its spectacular backdrop and demanding route, but also because of the strategic variables that bring the new regulations with it. The anticipation for the 78-round races and the associated tactics is expected by many fans and experts.