12 ° C
Profile

Month: April 2023

Formula One: Charles Leclerc earned €8,831 per lap last season

by: Luke Entwistle
12/04/2023
Charles Leclerc at the 2022 Monaco Grand Prix

Scuderia Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc earned €8,831 per lap last season, the eighth highest on the grid, but considerably behind Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton, who earned almost €30,000 per lap completed in the 2022 season.

Leclerc finished second in the driver’s championship last season. Despite a promising start to the campaign, which saw the Monégasque driver win two out of the first three races, Leclerc and the Ferrari team became unstuck in the midseason. Consequently, it was Red Bull’s Max Verstappen who strolled to a consecutive world title. 

However, the Dutchman wasn’t the highest earner per lap last season, according to research carried out by OLBG. That accolade goes to Hamilton, who completed 1,246 laps – 25 fewer than Verstappen – and earned an extraordinary €28,090 per lap raced. 

Verstappen, whose estimated salary is the same as Hamilton’s at €35,000,000, was the second-highest earner per lap. Monaco resident Lando Norris was placed third, ahead of Fernando Alonso, who at the time was racing for Alpine. 

The recently retired Sebastien Vettel was fifth, ahead of another driver no longer on the grid, Daniel Ricciardo. Carlos Sainz, who according to OLBG’s estimations earns €500,000 more than Leclerc, was seventh. Having completed 156 laps fewer than his teammate over the course of the season, Sainz is comfortably ahead of Leclerc (€10,649). 

Charles Leclerc one of the best value for money drivers on last year’s grid

Leclerc was then in eighth, earning €8,831 per lap. Alpha Tauri’s Yuki Tsundoa was the lowest earner per lap with just €590 earned each time he passed the start/finish line. 

Leclerc also earned €34,091 for each one of his 308 points earned during the last campaign, the third-lowest on the grid. Stroll, who earned €472,222 per point comes top of the list, representing the worst value for money. Mercedes’ George Russell, meanwhile, was the best value for money, earning just €16,364 per point in his first season with the team.

 

Sign up for the Monaco Life newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. 

Photo from Scuderia Ferrari Press Office

Nikki Beach launches season on rooftop in Monaco

by: Cassandra Tanti
12/04/2023

Summer reopenings are coming thick and fast. Nikki Beach is the latest to launch its season on the rooftop of the Fairmont Monte-Carlo with its signature vibe and entertainment, and a delicious menu served poolside.

Nikki Beach is the original luxury beach club concept that can now be found in 11 stylish hotspots across the globe, including Miami, Montenegro and Saint Tropez.

In Monaco, Nikki Beach has been marching to its own drum since 2015. The emphasis here is sophisticated poolside lounging with champagne, specialty cocktails and gourmet food.

 The globally-inspired menu emphasises fresh seafood, including a generous truffle tuna tartare with black radish, yuzu and black truffle for starter. We also enjoyed the butternut squash topped with vegan feta – a new addition to the menu, says Chef Alessandro Pizza.

The mains are equally generous and packed with flavour: the famous chicken satay and rice, and whole baked sea bass served with artichokes and a chopped tomato and olive salad are among the highlights.

But the chocolate tart, made with 70% Venezuelan chocolate, salted caramel and macadamia nuts, is not to be missed, even if you are in a bikini.

Corporate Executive Chef Alessandro Pizza, photo by Monaco Life

Nikki Beach’s menu follows a long-running winning formula for the resort. Everything is designed to be shared, says the chef, and sushi is always a hit.

Chef Pizza was born in Cambridge, UK, to Italian parents who inspired his passion for food. He has been with Nikki Beach since 2002 and was appointed Corporate Executive Chef in 2022, overseeing all of the kitchens in the franchise.

He opened Nikki Beach Saint Tropez 20 years ago and this is where you will most likely find him in the summer, but he tells us he will oversee Nikki Beach Monte-Carlo throughout the season, ensuring the kitchen maintains his high standards.

Photo by Monaco Life

Music is life

Nikki Beach is known for its live music programme. A global resident DJ curates the danceable soundtrack that guests have come to expect at all of their locations. Afternoon sessions at Nikki Beach Monte-Carlo are no different.

This summer, the rooftop will once again come alive with plenty of poolside revelry.

Every Tuesday in April, guests can enjoy ‘Sunset Rituals’ from 6pm to 8pm, and entertainment on Sundays from 11am to 8pm. Events can be found here.

See more in our Instagram video below…

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Monaco Life (@monacolife_)

 

Do you have an event in Monaco or the French Riviera that you would like us to include in our What’s On section and events calendar? Please email editor@monacolife.net.  

 

Feature image by Monaco Life

 

What to expect from the pension reform strikes on 13th April

by: Elsa Carpenter
12/04/2023
sncf avantage

The next round of mass protests against France’s pension reforms is to take place on Thursday 13th April. Here’s what to expect. 

Marking the 12th round of strikes since French President Emmanuel Macron announced his controversial plans to shake up the nation’s pensions system back in January, the incoming day of union action is going to affect commuters on their way to work the most heavily.  

SNCF train services are likely to be seriously disrupted, with early estimates from the rail travel network suggesting just one in five Intercités train and three in five TER trains will be running. Late evening and overnight services will be entirely cut, according to Le Figaro. TGVs will be impacted less, although some cancellations should be expected. 

The Direction Générale de l’Aviation Civile (DGAC) has announced 20% of flights will be culled in the regional airports of Toulouse, Bordeaux and Nantes, but airports in the French Riviera and Paris have been spared cancellations. Delays, however, could still materialise.  

France’s refineries are expected to kick off a two-day strike on Thursday 13th April, adding further pressure to low stocks in fuel stations across the country. A map detailing where to find fuel can be found here. 

Schools and other educational establishments do not appear to be affected by the protests.  

The most recent day of strikes, which took place on Thursday 6th April, saw over 110 people arrested by police and more than 150 officers injured in the shuffles around the country, according to French politician Gérald Darmanin.  

 

Sign up for the Monaco Life newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. 

 

Photo by Monaco Life

Daniel Mulhall goes “Around the World” with Yeats and Joyce

by: Stephanie Horsman
12/04/2023
daniel mulhall

In May, the Princess Grace Irish Library will host former Irish diplomat Danial Mulhall, who will be looking back over his 44 years of telling Ireland’s story using W.B. Yeats and James Joyce.  

When fiction and reality collide, it makes for a heady brew. This will most certainly be the case when Daniel Mulhall, a former diplomat who held ambassadorial posts in Berlin, London and Washington, tells how he spent 44 years revealing the nature, identity and long literary history of his country via the works of two renowned Irish authors.  He also published his own book, Ulysses – A Reader’s Odyssey, in 2022. 

The one-night-only event is being held at the Princess Grace Irish Library in Monaco on Wednesday 10th May. Entitled “Around the World with W.B. Yeats and James Joyce: A Diplomatic Odyssey”, Mulhall will tie in his nation’s modern history with that of the past, drawing on literary references to explain the complexities of the people, places and events that shaped, and continue to shape, Ireland.  

“Mulhall’s deployment of Joyce and Yeats around the world is a masterly example of exercising ‘soft power’ on behalf of Ireland,” says Ted Smyth, a former diplomat and business leader familiar with Mulhall. “Ireland might not have a large security force, but it does have an army of fabulous writers, poets, musicians, and artists who, with our talented diplomats, enable Ireland to punch above its weight in the international arena. Mulhall cleverly decodes all 18 episodes of James Joyce’s famous book while also providing personal and funny insights.”  

The lecture will take place at 7pm. It will be animated by actors from the Monaco-Ireland Arts Society, who will do dramatic readings of works by Yeats and Joyce. For more information, please click here. 

 

Do you have an event in Monaco or the French Riviera that you would like us to include in our What’s On section and events calendar? Please email editor@monacolife.net.  

 

Photo source: Princess Grace Irish Library

The most beautiful driving routes on the French Riviera

by: Elsa Carpenter
11/04/2023
driving route french riviera

The landscape of the Côte d’Azur has provided the backdrop for many a Hollywood movie driving scene. Experience its beauty for yourself with these five stunning routes. 

The geographical richness of the French Riviera, from the scintillating shores of the Mediterranean to the high peaks of the Alps and all the rolling hills between, has long made the region a favourite amongst drivers looking for a few blissful hours behind the wheel.  

The Grande, Moyenne and Basse Corniches between Nice and Monaco are well-known for their views, but if you venture just slightly further into the French Riviera, there are plenty more adventures to be had.  

The Corniche d’Or that clings to the edges of the iconic red rock of the Estérel, from Saint Raphaël to Theoule sur Mer, is celebrating its 120th anniversary this month. The combination of the rhyolite rock, the blue of the sea below and the green of the native shrubs that have colonised the range is simply spectacular. You’ll be hard pressed to resist stopping the car to check out the area on foot; 32,000 hectares of pristine nature await explorers on the many hiking and bikes trails that lead off the main road.  

driving route french riviera
A bird’s eye view of the Corniche d’Or. Photo: Estérel Côte d’Azur

Another favoured coastal drive is the Route des Crêtes between La Ciotat and Cassis. The road rises and falls on both sides of the Cap Canaille, and although it is a relatively short drive of about 15 kilometres, it is certainly worthy of a visit. To the east is Bandol and to the west are the Calanques de Cassis. On clear days, the islands off Marseille can also be spotted.  

While you’re in the realm of Provence, an excursion to the Chartreuse de la Verne in Collobrières is highly recommended. This Carthusian monastery is equidistant from the towns of Le Lavandou, Cavalaire sur Mer and Saint Tropez, so if you’re holidaying on the coast, make sure to add this destination to your list of possible day trips.

driving route french riviera
The hilltop gem of Chartreuse de La Verne. Photo: Xavier Larreur / Facebook

 Heading back towards Monaco, the Route de Napoleon technically begins in Golfe Juan, between Cannes and Antibes, but you won’t fully appreciate its beauty and scale until you reach Grasse and the hinterland behind the perfume capital. It marks the route that Napoleon took after leaving his exile in Elba in 1815, and twists through the mountainous backcountry of southern France, all the way to Grenoble. The stretch between Grasse and Castellane makes for the perfect family drive, and can easily be done in a morning if you allow for coffee and croissant stops in the little villages along the way.  

Our final favourite drive is a variation of the roads up to the Col de Turini. Beloved by cyclists for its intensity and reward, the pinnacle is the high mountain pass at over 1,500 metres above sea level. It’s a mainstay on the schedule of the Rallye de Monte-Carlo too. It can be approached from La Bollène Vesubie, Sospel or Lucéram, giving you plenty of options for a round route.  

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by CurvesHunter (@curveshunter)

 

Sign up for the Monaco Life newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.  

 

Main photo source: Estérel Côte d’Azur

 

 

 

Monte-Carlo Masters: Favourites Novak Djokovic and Stefanos Tsitsipas comfortbaly progress

by: Luke Entwistle
11/04/2023
Novak Djokovic at the Monte-Carlo Masters

The two favourites to win this year’s Monte-Carlo Masters, Novak Djokovic and Stefanos Tsitsipas, both progressed with ease on Tuesday.

Tuesday was the day that Monaco’s tennis festival truly got underway. The big names were in action, and the large crowds accompanied them.

Novak Djokovic beats Russian Ivan Gakhov

Djokovic has already improved on last season’s performance at the Monte-Carlo Masters. The Serbian suffered a first-round exit at the hands of eventual finalist Alejandro Davidovich-Fokina.

Photo of Novak Djokovic by Luke Entwistle, Monaco Life

There were no such difficulties on centre court on Tuesday. Djokovic had to contend with difficult swirling winds in the first set against Gakhov. However, the Monaco resident prevailed at the end of a tight tiebreak (7-6).

Photo of Novak Djokovic by Luke Entwistle, Monaco Life

Once in the ascendancy, Djokovic was ruthless. He wrapped up the second set in lightning-quick time, taking his opportunities to break when they came to progress to the second round (7-6, 6-2).

Benjamin Bonzi reitres hurt

Arguably Djokovic’s main rival in this year’s competition, Tsitsipas, had an even easier time on centre-court. As the Spring sun set on the stands, and the breeze off the Mediterranean picked up, temperatures dropped significantly, but fans didn’t have to endure them for long.

Photo of Stefanos Tsitsipas and Benjamin Bonzi by Luke Entwistle, Monaco Life

Benjamin Bonzi was broken in his first game, and the signs were ominous. Just minutes later, the Frenchman was forced into a medical timeout, before being broken again. Bonzi wasn’t able to continue, and Tsitsipas, who is looking for a third consecutive victory on the Monte-Carlo clay, exerted little energy as he progressed into the next round after just five games (4-1).

Valentin Vacherot latest Monégasque to exit

Earlier in the day, there was yet more Monégasque misery on Court Two of the Monte-Carlo Country Club (MCCC) on Wednesday. Valentin Vacherot, Monaco’s highest-ranked player, and who was the recipient of one of the much-coveted wildcards, succumbed in straight sets against Italian Luca Nardi.

Despite being in Monaco, there was no question of receiving any home-court advantage, with Italian fans packing the stands of the MCCC. Those that made the short trip across the border and into Monaco were in good voice, as their man applied the pressure on Vacherot early on.

Photo of Valentin Vacherot by Luke Entwistle, Monaco Life

Vacherot’s serve was frequently under threat, but when he was broken in the seventh, he immediately broke back. However, Nardi made the crucial break at the end of the first set to edge it (5-7).

A similar fate befell the Monégasque in the second set. Nardi made the initial break, but was pegged back. However, Vacherot, ranked 357th in the world had no response to his 159th-ranked opponent, who could count on the raucous support of his compatriots. Nardi ultimately prevailed (5-7, 5-7).

“It was great to play on Court Two, on which I’ve had success in the Davis Cup, in front of my family, my friends and coaches. Unfortunately, I didn’t get the job done on the court. It was really a great experience, even if I didn’t have a lot of rhythm. I gave everything,” said Vacherot post-defeat.

Romain Arneodo, who competes against a team composed of Alexander Zverev in the doubles on Wednesday, is Monaco’s last hope of success in this year’s Monte-Carlo Masters.

 

Sign up for the Monaco Life newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. 

Photo of Novak Djokovic by Luke Entwistle, Monaco Life.