Monaco Grand Prix 2025: Full F1 coverage from SB Nation

The Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix tasks drivers with surviving 78 of the most difficult laps on the calendar, as they rocket by some of the most iconic scenes in motorsport with walls — and danger — looming around every corner.

Yet F1 immortality awaits at the end of those 78 hair-raising laps.

Lewis Hamilton turned in his best qualifying session of the 2025 Formula 1 season Saturday in Monte Carlo, putting his SF-25 on the second row as he finished fourth in the session at the Monaco Grand Prix.

But he will not start there.

Haas rookie Oliver Bearman’s first Monaco Grand Prix as a Formula 1 driver has become much tougher for him. The driver was given a massive ten-place grid penalty following an incident that occurred during Friday’s second practice session on the streets of Monte Carlo.

Bearman was summoned by race officials after FP2, with stewards hoping to speak with him about an incident that occurred midway through the second practice session. After Oscar Piastri’s crash brought out the red flag, replays seemed to show Bearman trying to overtake Carlos Sainz Jr. under red-flag conditions.

A major storyline after the first hour of practice at the Monaco Grand Prix?

Traffic.

Formula 1’s governing body instituted a new rule for the Monaco Grand Prix, hoping to increase opportunities for overtaking and improve the “racing spectacle.” Starting this season, drivers are required to make two pit stops and use three different tires — including two different compounds if the race is run in dry conditions.

On Thursday’s media day ahead of the Monaco Grand Prix, several drivers offered their thoughts on what the rule could mean this weekend.

Liam Lawson has been driving in Formula 1 during each of the past three seasons. He made his F1 debut at the 2023 Dutch Grand Prix, stepping into the seat at AlphaTauri after Daniel Ricciardo broke a bone in his hand. He again replaced Ricciardo last season, after Visa Cash App RB F1 Team decided to make a driver switch ahead of the United States Grand Prix. And while Lawson began this season alongside Max Verstappen at Red Bull, he is back with the junior team, racing for Visa Cash App Racing Bulls after a switch was made before the Japanese Grand Prix.

But this week, he will finally experience another first in F1.

Williams has enjoyed a stellar start to the 2025 Formula 1 season.

After seven race weekends, they sit fifth in the Constructors’ Championship standings with 51 points, and are coming off three consecutive races where both Carlos Sainz Jr. and Alex Albon finished in the points. Furthermore, the 51 points the team has in their account through seven race weekends is more than their total from the past two seasons, combined:

The Emilia Romagna Grand Prix was a difficult weekend for Mercedes.

Young phenom Kimi Antonelli began the week by hosting his classmates in the paddock, giving his fellow students a look at what the 18-year-old does on the Formula 1 grid. But the week ended with Antonelli retiring from the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, as his W16 suffered a loss of throttle control on Lap 46.