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Day: 23 May 2017

Hamilton goes for hat-trick at Grand Prix

by: Cassandra Tanti
23/05/2017
Photo: Flickr ph-stop
Photo: Flickr ph-stop

The Monaco Grand Prix pre-event barrage of comments from teams and drivers is well underway before track action starts on Thursday, May 25, three days ahead of the world’s favourite Grand Prix event.

Louis Hamilton has been one of the first to make a contribution, saying that the Monaco Grand Prix is “all about mental strength”. The Mercedes driver is bidding for his third victory after winning in 2008 and again last year in a mix of wet and dry conditions. His controversial late pit-stop in 2015 pushed him down to third place on the podium.

“The most important thing is that you have to learn to walk before you run,” Hamilton said this week. “You have to build up to the pace so that, by the time you work up to that second run in Q3, you’re at 100 percent. It’s a circuit which is all about mental strength, you need to be sharp and clear. Experience counts here too – that helps massively in setting the car up.”

However, Hamilton doesn’t underestimate the challenges. Monaco is notorious for its lack of overtaking opportunities and in the urban setting of the Principality pole position is highly coveted. There are also modifications to the cars.

“We have new cars this weekend which are wider and faster, so that’s going to be a massive challenge. In trying to push the car as close as you can to the limit, it’ll be a real test of your awareness of where the car is. I’m sure there will be some brushing of the barriers,” Hamilton said.

Mercedes have an eight-point lead over Ferrari in the Constructors’ standings, with Hamilton six points behind Sebastian Vettel in the Drivers’ battle. In the recent Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona, Hamilton got off to a bad start, despite his pole position, and them climbed back to win the race after a tussle with Vettel in which the Brit shot past the German on the outside of turn one.

The Monaco Grand Prix is always a great spectacle, but changes to the cars and the battle between Hamilton and Vettel promise to add even more interest on Sunday.

Look for Monaco Life’s interview this week with Felipe Massa.

New health screening campaign launched

by: Cassandra Tanti
23/05/2017

hospitalMonaco’s Department of Health and Social Affairs is launching a free campaign for the detection of abdominal aortic aneurysm in people aged 65 to 80.

This move reinforces the government’s policy of pursuing excellence in the field of public health, including prevention against breast cancer, colorectal cancer and cervical cancer.

Abdominal aortic aneurysm is fatal in more than 80 percent of cases if it is not detected early. This frequent and potentially very serious condition affects one percent of women and five percent of men over 65, especially smokers, former smokers, hypertensive patients and people with a family history of this condition.

The aneurysm of the abdominal aorta is an abnormal dilation of this major blood vessel. This condition, which is not indicated by any particular symptom or pain, is easily detected by a simple abdominal ultrasound. If the diameter of the aorta is greater than 55 millimetres in men and 40 millimetres in women, surgical treatment is recommended, which is effective in more than 90 percent of cases.

The screening campaign is co-piloted by Dr Daniel Rouison, head of the Monegasque Centre for Screening, and Drs Jean-Michel Cucchi, Mathieu Liberatore and Anna Björkman of the Princess Grace Hospital Centre.

All men and women between the ages of 65 and 80, residents and those affiliated with Monegasque social organisations, will be able to benefit from an ultrasound screening free of charge. Each person will receive a letter proposing an examination. This must be carried at the Princess Grace Hospital by appointment.

Monaco enjoys the highest life expectancy in the world, at an average of 89.5 years.

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Monaco at the 127th Ministerial Session of the Council of Europe

by: Cassandra Tanti
23/05/2017
Gilles Tonelli and Mr Ioannis Kasoulides, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Cyprus, Chairman of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe © DR
Gilles Tonelli and Mr Ioannis Kasoulides, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Cyprus, Chairman of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe © DR

Gilles Tonelli, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, accompanied by HE Rémi Mortier, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Monaco to the Council of Europe and Gabriel Revel, Deputy to the Permanent Representative, participated in the 127th Ministerial Session of the Council of Europe on May 19 in Nicosia, the capital of Cyprus.

This high-level meeting brought together the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the 47 member states.

In his speech, Gilles Tonelli addressed the many issues which the Ministers had debated during their deliberations, in particular those concerning the defence of European common values in the face of terrorism; ensuring the long-term effectiveness of the system of the European Convention on Human Rights; the protection of refugee and migrant children, the fight against violent extremism and radicalisation leading to terrorism.

At the end of the meeting, the Guidelines on the Protection of Victims of Terrorism and the Action Plan on the Protection of Refugee and Migrant Children were adopted by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs.

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Monaco hospital inaugurates urban vegetable garden

by: Cassandra Tanti
23/05/2017
Hospital vegetable garden (L-R): André Garino, Chairman of CHPG Board of Directors, Benoîte De Sevelinges, Deputy Director of CHPG, Stéphane Valeri, Minister of Health, Jessica Sbaraglia, founder of "Terre de Monaco" and Patrick Bini, Director of CHPG © CHPG
Hospital vegetable garden (L-R): André Garino, Chairman of CHPG Board of Directors, Benoîte De Sevelinges, Deputy Director of CHPG, Stéphane Valeri, Minister of Health, Jessica Sbaraglia, founder of “Terre de Monaco” and Patrick Bini, Director of CHPG ©CHPG

As if its medical excellence was not enough, the Princess Grace Hospital has opened a vegetable garden.

On Monday, May 22, Stéphane Valeri, Minister of Health and Social Affairs, inaugurated the urban vegetable garden of the Princess Grace Hospital Centre, in the presence of André Garino, Chairman of the Board of CHPG, Patrick Bini, Director of CHPG, Benoîte De Sevelinges, Deputy Director, and Jessica Sbaraglia, founder of Terre de Monaco.

Urban agriculture has become an interest for CHPG, which called on the association Terre de Monaco to bring the project to fruition. This partnership led to the creation of a 250sqm vegetable garden, whose healthy and tasty produce is destined for the kitchen of CHPG’s nursery, retirement homes and staff restaurants.

Two months of work and 20 tons of organic potting soil were necessary to transform unused land into a real farm in the heart of Monaco. This approach is part of CHPG’s Sustainable Development policy, which since 2010 has been developing innovations and projects, aimed both at saving energy and reducing its environmental impact.

Terre de Monaco has set itself the task of establishing urban agriculture, in particular ecological fruit and vegetable gardens, on the rooftops, balconies and the surroundings of buildings of the Principality and neighbouring municipalities, while marketing the produce from its small farms under its own label.

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Monaco GP 75 Series: 52 races later

by: Cassandra Tanti
23/05/2017
Interviewing HSH for Hungarian TV.
Andrew Frankl interviewing Prince Albert for Hungarian TV

I look forward to this Sunday’s Grand Prix race just as much as I did all those years ago … 52 to be exact.

Monaco may have changed over the years but the Monaco magic is still very much alive.

Read the Monaco Grand Prix survival guide.

Returning for the first time since last year’s Formula One, the first glimpse of the Med brings back wonderful memories.

When balconies were really full
When balconies were really full

Graham Hill marching up to Casino Square straight into the American Bar at the Hotel de Paris for a very large gin and tonic, or Jackie Stewart doing his famous walk down the hill, hand-in-hand with his wife, Helen, carrying his own helmet!

I don’t think I’ve seen a driver do that in the last ten years.

The discount seats
The discount seats

And journalists could talk to drivers one-on-one, or even ski with them in Switzerland without a PR person present. Happy days.

Now, of course, with TV and, especially, social media, that sort of thing is unimaginable. Even Lewis Hamilton’s dog has his own website.

For example, when Fernando Alonso declared that he was going to race at Indy the whole of Spain started following his progress online. Never mind the race, the Spanish papers sent reporters to cover their hero’s every movement.

Staking an Aston Martin Lagonda into barrier at Rascasse. Priceless!

So is the Monaco Grand Prix the same after all these years? By and large, no. The one aspect that has changed, and had to change, was that of safety.

As a street circuit, Monaco can never be as safe as some of the new tracks where you can barely see the action because the cars are so far away but Lorenzo Bandini’s horrifying accident in 1967 could not happen today. The cars are stronger, racing suits are still fire-retardant but now more high-tech, helmets have been hugely improved and, certainly fire fighting equipment is much more advanced.

True, accidents can still happen, particularly on the first lap, but while pieces of the cars may fly on impact, the drivers will – hopefully – emerge unscathed.

Ayrton in the pit lane
Ayrton in the pit lane

Happiest Monaco Grand Prix memories? To watch Jean Pierre Beltoise win in the torrential rain back in ’72; to see Her Serene Highness Princess Grace hand over the massive trophy with this little guy standing next to her, who of course was none other than Prince Albert; Ayrton Sienna’s unforgettable fastest lap in 1988, and Michael Schumacher at his majestic best. The list is endless.

The wonderful thing is that, in spite of all the changes on the outside of the track, once the five red lights go out it will be a gigantic battle from the inside.

I know it won’t happen, at least it would be most unlikely, but I’d love an outsider like Sergio Perez (Force India) or Nico Hulkenberg (Renault) win the 75th Grand Prix de Monaco.

Andrew Frankl, 1966
Andrew Frankl, 1966

Andrew Frankl, is Grand Prix Editor of FORZA. Article first published May 23, 2017.

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Sir Roger Moore, 89, dies of cancer, family confirms

by: Cassandra Tanti
23/05/2017
Photo: Twitter
Photo: Twitter

“Being known eternally as James Bond has no downside,” Sir Roger Moore once told The Guardian.

On Wednesday afternoon, the death of James Bond legend and Monaco resident, Sir Roger Moore, was announced by his family via social media. He died Tuesday, May 22.

“It is with a heavy heart that we must announce our loving father, Sir Roger Moore, has passed away today in Switzerland after a short but brave battle with cancer. The love with which he was surrounded in his final days was so great it cannot be quantified in words alone.”

The five-paragraph statement, signed by Deborah, Geoffrey and Christian, also said, “Thank you Pops for being you, and for being so very special to so many people.”

Immediate reactions on Twitter included Piers Morgan: “Oh no. As if today wasn’t already sad enough. RIP Sir Roger Moore, 89. A wonderful actor & lovely man”, as well Andrew Lloyd Webber, Edgar Wright, and Russell Crowe.

Article first published May 23, 2017.

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