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Month: May 2023

Formula 1: Verstappen recovers from ninth to win in Miami, Leclerc seventh

by: Luke Entwistle
08/05/2023
Charles Leclerc at the Miami GP

Max Verstappen recovered from ninth position on the grid to win the Miami Grand Prix on Sunday, beating polesitter and teammate Sergio Perez in the final laps.

Leclerc struggled to get to grips with the Miami track, and his crash in Q3 on Saturday brought out a red flag, prematurely ending the qualifying session. Perez was the major benefactor and sat on pole, but teammate Verstappen languished down in ninth.

However, as has been the case at various points this season, there was an air of inevitability to Verstappen’s rise through the field. The speed in the Red Bull is unmatched on this year’s grid, especially in a straight line, and aware that resistance was futile, no driver put up considerable resistance.

Charles Leclerc demoted to the midfield

On a different strategy to most, Verstappen was in the lead by the midway point and only briefly ceded that lead to Perez after a late pitstop. On medium tyres, Verstappen made the race-winning pass on his teammate around the outside of turn one and eased to the chequered flag. Perez took second ahead of Fernando Alonso to complete the podium.

Leclerc was fighting at the front during last year’s inaugural edition of the race, but the Ferrari simply didn’t have the speed to compete this weekend. Instead, Leclerc, who seems to lack confidence on the track, exemplified by his two crashes over the course of the race weekend, was left fighting with the Haas of Kevin Magnussen for phases of the Grand Prix.

The Monégasque did eventually free himself of that battle and was in sixth before Lewis Hamilton made a late overtake to demote Leclerc to seventh. Teammate Carlos Sainz finished in fifth in what was a difficult weekend for Ferrari, who sorely lacked pace.

They will be looking to close the gap to Red Bull, who have won all five races this season (three for Verstappen, two for Perez), at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix in a fortnight.

 

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Photo source: Scuderia Ferrari Media Centre

Monte-Carlo Television Festival: Golden Nymph nominees revealed

by: Stephanie Horsman
08/05/2023
MONTE-CARLO TELEVISION FESTIVAL

The Golden Nymph Award nominees for the Monte-Carlo Television Festival have been revealed, with 18 international competitors going for the gold.  

The Monte-Carlo Television Festival will be back at the Grimaldi Forum from 16th to 20th June. Preparations are well underway for this 62nd edition and the nominees for the Golden Nymph Awards, the festival’s highest honours, have now been announced. 

This year, 18 programmes from 12 countries have been chosen. These include three world premieres, seven international debuts and two premieres from France. The entrants’ genres range from fiction to news and documentaries, and the winners will be selected by an equally diverse jury, which will include the well-known American actor John Goodman as President of the Panel.  

“Having a nomination for a Golden Nymph Award means true international recognition for a production,” says Laurent Puons, CEO of the Monte-Carlo Television Festival. “We have a really strong line-up this year and are extremely pleased to see so many programmes from all parts of the world. The superb quality of the programming chosen for the 2023 Official Selection demonstrates just how our competition continues to grow in both size and global importance.” 

The prizes to be given for Fiction include Best Film, Best Series, Best Creation, Best Actress, Best Actor and a Special Jury Prize. In the News & Documentaries category, they will go to the Best News Programme and Best Documentary. There will also be a Special Jury Prize. 

Anglophone nominees for a Golden Nymph

The English-speaking productions in the running for a Golden Nymph include: Ten Pound Poms, a UK-Australian project from Eleven Film; The Man Who Played With Fire from the UK’s RAW; Nazanin also from the UK’s 649 Media and Channel 4; First To Stand: The Cases and Causes of Irwin Cotler from Canada’s DLI Productions; and Poker Face from the USA’s T-Street, MRC Television and Paramount.

It has been announced that the writer for hit series such as The X Files and Homeland, Howard Gordon, will be given an honorary prize presented by Princess Charlene. 

In addition, this year sees the return of the Public Prize. For the second year, this award, given in partnership with BetaSeries, gives fans a chance to participate in the festival by voting for their favourite series or show, earning a prize for the one with the most votes.  

The event, which celebrates the best of TV from around the world, as well as offering marketing and public relations opportunities to producers and distributors, was created by Prince Rainier III and is now under the Honorary Presidency of Prince Albert II.  

For more information on the event, 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: Monte-Carlo Television Festival 

 

What you need to know about the 2023 Monaco Smart & Sustainable Marina event

by: Elsa Carpenter
08/05/2023
Monaco Smart & Sustainable Marina

Now is the time for interested exhibitors to register in the pre-selection process for this year’s Monaco Smart & Sustainable Marina event. 

Set to take place on 24th and 25th September, just a few days before the Monaco Yacht Show kicks off on 27th September, this year’s edition of the Monaco Smart & Sustainable Marina will unite hundreds of decision makers, business leaders, investors and designers under the roof of the Yacht Club de Monaco for two days of conferences, roundtables and networking opportunities. 

The objective is simple: to encourage innovation and investment in solutions to build the ports and marinas of tomorrow that will make them “efficient, attractive, practical and, above all, sustainable”.  

Organised by consulting firm Monaco Marina Management and supported by Crédit Suisse, MB92 Group, Xerjoff and the Yacht Club de Monaco, representatives from 20 marinas and port builders attended last year’s event as well as around 50 start-ups in the sector and numerous yacht owners and shipyards.  

Given that many of the biggest companies in the industry will likely already be in town ahead of the Monaco Yacht Show, the Monaco Smart & Sustainable Marina event is a great opportunity to meet those in the know in a more intimate setting.  

The pre-selection stage for exhibitors is now open and further information can be found here. Those interested in attending, but not as an exhibitor, can also use the link to submit their details. 

To find out more about the event in general, please click here. 

 

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The islands of the French Riviera that you might not have heard of

by: Elsa Carpenter
07/05/2023
islands french riviera

Whether by private yacht, sailboat or ferry, these islands off the coast of the French Riviera all deserve a visit. 

From the historic Îles des Lérins near Cannes to the protected cluster in the Port Cros National Park, the islands of the south of France have long attracted visitors and even life-long residents, but not all are well-known. Some lie metres from the mainland and can be accessed by foot or bridge, while others glimmer and glitter on the horizon, reachable only by boat. 

Cannes’ Îles des Lérins are perhaps the most famous islands. Île Sainte-Marguerite is the largest and most visible from shore. It was once the “home” of the Man in the Iron Mask, a still unknown figure who was imprisoned on the island in the late 1600s. Today, it is a popular day-tripping destination for its beaches and restaurant, La Guérite.  

 

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Across a small stretch of water lies Île Saint-Honorat, which has been the site of a monastery since the fifth century. Around 20 monks still live within the walls of the Abbaye de Lérins. The island is also home to a respected vineyard that can be visited several times a year. 

A handful of small îlots are to be found in the waters around these two bigger islands, and can be circumnavigated by canoe, kayak or paddle board for the more adventurous.  

A little further down the coast and just to the east of Saint-Raphaël is the Île d’Or with its magnificent stone tower. It’s a small rocky outcrop that is privately owned, meaning you can’t climb ashore, but this emblematic symbol of the Estérel is worth cruising by.  

The Île de Galeotti can also be found in this area. It’s a popular diving spot that also goes by the name Lion de Mer and can be enjoyed by divers of all skill sets. There are two statues just below the water line that are easy to reach for amateurs.  

Although not actually an island, the Cap Taillat near Ramatuelle is an absolute must-see. It’s well removed from the pomp and glamour of Saint Tropez; the peninsular is raw and natural in its beauty, with gleaming sand and crystal-clear waters. Did you know it was the backdrop for the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang beach scene in 1968? 

The Îles d’Hyères, namely Porquerolles, Port-Cros and the Île du Levant, are the ultimate island-hopping destinations. They form part of the protected Port-Cros National Park, making them a real treat to experience for their lush native vegetation and teeming waters. Hiking, swimming, diving and even a spot of nudist sunbathing on the Île du Levant… There are countless ways to enjoy these special islands. 

The Embiez archipelago, which is made up of the Île du Petit Gaou, Île du Grand Gaou and Embiez, was developed by local businessman Paul Ricard of pastis fame. After millennia as little more than rocky outposts off the coast of Six-Fours-les-Plages, the 1950s saw Ricard snap up the collection of islands, along with nearby Bendor, and transform them into high-end holiday destinations. Today there are several great restaurants, a vineyard, an aquarium and museum, sports facilities and plenty of natural hiking and biking trails to explore.  

The final stops on our tour are the handful of islands found between La Ciotat and Marseille, starting with the Île Verte in the east, a place where trees met the sea, and continuing through to the Île Riou and its neighbours off the coast of Cassis and the Calanques, then on to the Îles du Frioul of Marseille. Boat trips frequently visit these islands, making them the ideal choice for a day out with family and friends. Much of the sea falls into a protected Natura 2000 zone and dolphins and whales are regularly spotted out to sea.  

 

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Photo source: Benjamin Lecomte for Unsplash

 

Football: Monaco return to winning ways to consolidate fourth place

by: Luke Entwistle
07/05/2023
Aleksandr Golovin

AS Monaco returned to winning ways at the Stade Raymond Kopa, beating already-relegated SCO Angers 2-1 to consolidate their fourth place in Ligue 1.

Philippe Clement needed a reaction from his men on Sunday, and he got one. Les Monégasques were dominant in the first half, but thanks to the heroics of Paul Bernardoni, that wasn’t reflected in the scoreline.

An Aleksandr Golovin goal late in the first half was all that separated the sides going into the break, and in the second half, Monaco didn’t have so much joy. Myron Boadu, in for Wissam Ben Yedder, who was dropped by Clement for reportedly missing a pre-training session meeting, doubled Monaco’s advantage on the hour mark.

Monaco in no man’s land

However, there would be no clean sheet for Alexander Nübel, who was beaten by Abdallah Sima shortly after. That set up a nervy finish, but Monaco held on for an important win.

Consequently, Monaco are in fourth, and five points ahead of Lille OSC, who suffered a surprise defeat against Stade de Reims. With Stade Rennais also losing, against OGC Nice, Les Monégasques have created a nice buffer. However, following RC Lens’ victory over Olympique de Marseille on Saturday, the third place looks increasingly out of reach. Only a capitulation from Marseille would give Monaco a sniff of Champions League football for next season.

However, Clement doesn’t want his men “calculating.” The Belgian coach added, “The players were thinking too much about the standing. They should give everything in every match, as much for supporters as for themselves. We need to go on a run.”

Monaco next host Lille, a direct competitor for the Europa League spot, at the Stade Louis II next Sunday.

 

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Photo by AS Monaco

Formula E highlights: Nick Cassidy comes from ninth to win Monaco ePrix

by: Luke Entwistle
06/05/2023
Nick Cassidy on top of the podium after winning the Monaco ePrix

Nick Cassidy has backed up his win in Berlin with victory at the Monaco ePrix on Saturday to move to the top of the Formula E standings. 

Cassidy fended off fellow New Zealander Mitch Evans in the dying stages and was helped by a late safety car, which neutralised the race until the chequered flag. However, it didn’t look like being Cassidy’s day earlier on Saturday.

The Envision Racing team didn’t show stunning pace around the streets of Monte-Carlo, and Cassidy’s ninth place in qualifying attested to that. However, the race itself was a different story, and Cassidy immediately began making his way through the field, taking two places off the line in an unusually clean start.

Photo of Nick Cassidy by Luke Entwistle, Monaco Life

Jake Hughes’ pole position unconverted

Jake Hughes beat Sacha Fenstraz to pole position in a battle of the rookies’ pole shootout. The former had initially missed out on front place on the grid before a penalty for the latter saw the Argentine demoted.

However, the Brit began to quickly fall through the field, and Evans and Cassidy came to the fore. It had looked like being Evans day, the New Zealander who won the ePrix last year was in the lead until lap 18 when Cassidy made the race-winning move into Sainte-Dévote.

Photo of Jake Hughes by Luke Entwistle, Monaco Life

A homecoming to forget for Maserati MSG Racing

However, Evans remained in touch with Cassidy before Max Günther’s retirement changed the complexion of the race in the dying stages. Heading up to Massenet, the Maserati MSG Racing driver, who finished on the podium in Berlin, collided with Dan Ticktum in what the former described to Monaco Life as an “unsportsmanlike move.”

Further down the road, Edoardo Mortara wasn’t in contention for points, ultimately finishing 12th.

Günther’s collision left a five-lap shootout for the win, but Evans, despite applying pressure, couldn’t find the race-winning move. A crash between Evans’ teammate Sam Bird and Nico Muller neutralised the race, and it never restarted with Cassidy picking up back-to-back wins and taking the top spot in the drivers’ standings. Jake Dennis rounded off the podium.

Photo of Max Günther’s Maserati MSG Racing car by Luke Entwistle, Monaco Life

“It’s a massive moment for me to win in Monaco”

Last year’s winner Evans rued a missed chance and felt that had he resisted Cassidy’s push for a few laps, the win could have been his.

“I think I could have kept him behind for a couple of laps, after that it would have been a different story, but that’s the way it’s gone today. Nick timed it perfectly,” said Evans. “There were moments in the race where I thought it was for me today, especially when I got into the lead,” he added.

Photo of Mitch Evans by Luke Entwistle, Monaco Life

“It’s a massive moment for me [to win in Monaco]. It was a tough, tough race. I still can’t believe it yet to be honest. My first reaction was, and nothing against Berlin, but this feels amazing. That’s pretty damn special so it’s going to take probably tonight to sink in,” said Cassidy.

Photo of Nick Cassidy by Luke Entwistle, Monaco Life

Last year, it was Stoffel Vandoorne who took the chequered flag at the Monaco ePrix. He then went on to win the world title. However, Cassidy isn’t thinking too far ahead. “That’s one example, but I’m staying calm,” he told Monaco Life. 

Winning the crown jewel of the Formula E calendar was a good omen for Vandoorne last year. Time will tell whether it will be for Cassidy this time around.

See more in our video of the Monaco ePrix below…

 

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SEE ALSO:

Exclusive: MSG’s James Rossiter says “everything is possible” at home Monaco ePrix

 

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Photo above by Luke Entwistle, Monaco Life