Lando Norris is thrilled about his victory in Monte Carlo and wants to tell his children one day that he conquered Monaco
It was one of those magical Sundays when childhood dreams come true. Surrounded by glittering yachts, traditional streets, and the constant sound of the Cote d’Azur, Lando Norris wrote a new chapter in the history of the legendary city circuit. The Brit won the Monaco Grand Prix for the first time—and let his emotions run free.
“It feels incredible,” said Norris after the race, visibly moved. The final laps in particular had really put his nerves to the test. “The last quarter was a bit nerve-wracking, with Charles close behind me and Max in front of me – but we won. In Monaco. In the end, it doesn’t matter how you win.”
But for Norris, it was about more than just a victory. It was about a lifelong dream. Pole position, a controlled race, strong nerves – and finally, the jump onto the most prestigious podium in Formula 1. “This is what I dreamed of as a child. I’ve made one of my dreams come true.”
The sight of his family and team below the podium moved Norris: “Of course, seeing the team and seeing everyone—my mom and dad down there. It’s the feelings inside that are really special.”
Even though he says that the view from the podium wasn’t quite as spectacular as one might assume: “All I could see were camera lenses, I can imagine nicer things,” he laughs.
For McLaren, it was their first Monaco victory since 2008, when Lewis Hamilton triumphed on the streets of the principality. “So it’s not just a good day for me, but also a good day for McLaren,” says Norris, looking beyond the present.
“Proud for the rest of my life”
“The best thing about it is that one day my children will be able to say that I won in Monaco. That’s probably what I’m most proud of,” says the Englishman.
“It wasn’t just the pole or just the race, it was both together, and I think that’s perfect,” said Norris. “It’s something I can be proud of for the rest of my life.
The same goes for his qualifying lap of 1:09.954 minutes, which marked a milestone in breaking the 1:10 barrier. “That will most likely remain unbeaten for a long time,” he says. “Next year’s cars won’t be nearly as fast. Hopefully, this lap time will stand for a very, very long time.”
“It’s the significance, the history, the people who have won here in the past. They don’t all become world champions, but most of them do. And just knowing that in 30 years’ time I can say, ‘I mastered Monaco in that one year’ – or hopefully in a few more years – but that one year, I’m looking forward to being able to say that.”