The opening race of the 2024 Formula One World Championship in Bahrain saw Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc achieve a fourth-placed finish behind his Scuderia Ferrari teammate Carlos Sainz in third and a Red Bull first and second.
Despite starting from a sixth consecutive front row position, 26-year-old Leclerc struggled with brakes issues throughout the race and ultimately ended his run on the Sakhir Circuit on 2nd March in fourth.
His teammate Sainz, however, had better luck and moved up from a P4 to achieve a podium place behind the ever-dominant Maz Verstappen and Sergio Pérez of Red Bull. His fluidity on track and passes saw him clinch the season’s first ‘Driver of the Day’ as voted for by the watching public.
Leclerc’s Ferrari teammate, Carlos Sainz, took third and won ‘Driver of the Day’. Photo credit: Scuderia Ferrari Media Centre
“It was a disappointing race from my side,” said Leclerc post-race. “There was an issue with the brakes, so I struggled to stay on track, especially in turns nine and 10. We would have had the pace in the car to put up a good fight so I can’t wait to get back in the car in Jeddah.”
While he was clearly frustrated, having performed exceptionally well during practice and qualifying, the combined efforts of Leclerc and Sainz have earned Ferrari a solid points start to the year – 27 for Ferrari compared to Red Bull’s 44 – and they were able to close the gap on the Red Bulls in front when compared to the 2023 Bahrain race.
“This weekend, our flying lap performance matched our expectations, but we have a clear step to make in terms of our race pace as we were not in the fight with Red Bull,” said Ferrari Team Principal Frédéric Vasseur. “That said I consider today’s race a good baseline… We will continue with our development and I’m confident we will be able to take the fight to them [Red Bull] more often.”
His words echoed Leclerc’s admission prior to the race that “Red Bull still seem to be a step ahead of the rest of the pack”.
The season continues at pace, with the next race set to take place in Saudi Arabia next Saturday on the Jeddah Corniche Circuit.
From religious occasions to celebrations of national identity, here’s a guide to all of the public holidays set to take place in Monaco during 2024.
The way in which public holidays – or jours fériés in French – work in Monaco reflects the government’s commitment to ensuring worker welfare across all sectors. These designated rest days ensure that employees are granted time off, with fair compensation provided for those required to work either through equivalent pay or a compensatory day off. Whatsmore, holidays that occur during an employee’s paid leave do not impact their total leave entitlement.
The first bank holiday following New Year’s Day will happen on Easter Monday on Monday 1st April. The holiday prolongs the celebrations of Easter Sunday, which marks the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Here in Monaco, families often gather for a special lunch and participate in community events, such egg hunts and parades. To read about last Easter’s celebrations in Monaco, click here.
Then comes Labour Day on Wednesday 1st May, a worldwide observance recognising workers’ rights.
Ascension Day, observed on Thursday 9th May, and Corpus Christi, on Thursday 30th May, offer some employers and employees the chance to faire le pont and bridge their day off with the weekend by adding an extra day, while Whit Monday on Monday 20th May will further break up the most generous month on the calendar for public holidays.
During the summer, Assumption Day will be celebrated on Thursday 15th August. This significant day is marked by special church services, often attended by the Princely family, that showcase the cultural and religious traditions of the Principality.
As autumn unfolds, All Saints’ Day on Friday 1st November offers a moment for people to pay tribute to the departed. Additionally, the end of October tends to heralds the return of the funfair in Port Hercule, giving locals another excuse to enjoy some precious time off.
The National Day of Monaco, which will be celebrated on Tuesday 19th November, is a vibrant celebration of Monegasque identity that features fireworks, a Te Deum mass, public concerts, appearances by the Princely family and military parades that highlight the nation’s heritage. To read more about National Day, click here.
The 2024 calendar also features the Immaculate Conception on Sunday 8th December, a day devoted to honouring the Virgin Mary’s role in Christianity through church services, mass attendance and prayer sessions. As this holiday falls on a weekend, no additional day off will be granted.
Concluding the 2024 public holiday calendar, Christmas Day will be celebrated on Wednesday 25th December, ushering in a festive close to the year before welcoming the arrival of 2025.
AS Monaco secured a hard-fought draw against Paris Saint-Germain (0-0) in a match dominated by the controversial return of prodigal son Kylian Mbappé.
With a departure from PSG pending, it was perhaps Mbappé’s last professional match at the Stade Louis II. The France captain, who joined Les Parisiens for €180m back in 2017, is expected to join Real Madrid at the end of the season, but prior to that, he was tasked with captaining his side to victory on Friday night.
Whilst Monaco have struggled for form at home in recent months, earning just one point from their last four games at the iconic Stade Louis II, Adi Hütter’s side were at the races against the league leaders.
“We have to get used to playing without Kylian Mbappé” – Luis Enrique
Mbappé was kept quiet by the consistently impressive Wilfried Singo and at the other end, Monaco created chances, almost at will. Folarin Balogun drew an early save from Gianluigi Donnarumma and it was a sign of things to come with the Italian goalkeeper going on to have a decisive performance.
He then tipped over from a curled Takumi Minamino effort before Maghnes Akliocuhe forced Donnarumma into two important interventions before the break.
Kylian Mbappé making his way around the track at the Stade Louis II. Photo credit: Luke Entwistle, Monaco Life
As the teams emerged for the second half, there was one notable absentee – Mbappé. The Frenchman had suffered a knock during a collision with Guillermo Maripán midway through the first half, but post-match, PSG manager Luis Enrique revealed that his choice to take off his talisman was tactical.
“It was 100% the coach’s decision. Sooner or later we will have to get used to playing without Kylian Mbappe. It is my decision and one that I take with the objective of doing the best for the team,” reacted the Spanish manager, who became increasingly irate with journalists’ line of questioning.
Goalkeepers reign in the Principality
With Mbappé sat up in the stands alongside his mother, Fayza Lamari, PSG grew into the game, but not before Wissam Ben Yedder rattled the bar with a thunderous volley.
Bradley Barcola, the heir apparent to Mbappé’s throne, was particularly influential off the bench, testing Radoslaw Majecki on two occasions. Vitinha also stung the palms of the Polish goalkeeper, who has validated Hütter’s choice to replace Philipp Köhn between the sticks.
Majecki, who in the words of Hütter had a “fantastic game”, had a decisive impact on the game, just like his opposite number, Donnarumma. With goalkeepers proving pivotal, both sides were forced to settle for a draw, which consolidates PSG’s position as league leaders, and keeps Monaco in third… for now.
A point and the performance to match
“It is a good point for PSG as well,” reacted Hütter, who was full of praise for his side, both on a collective and individual level. “It was a good response after the last four home games. Those performances weren’t acceptable with four games and just one point. This point against PSG is different because the performance was really good,” added the Austrian manager.
After a string of poor performances, Monaco now have four points in their last two games, which has reasserted their Champions League credentials. With three consecutive games against relegation candidates in Strasbourg, Lorient and Metz, Les Monégasques must be wary not to undo their hard work against ‘inferior’ opposition.
Explore the world of art, scenography and opportunity at the Pavillon Bosio’s annual Open Day this March.
Located on the Rock of Monaco and also known as the École Supérieure d’Arts Plastiques de la Ville de Monaco (ESAP), Pavillon Bosio is a higher education establishment for art and scenography.
The school awards the National Diploma in Plastic Arts (Bac +3) and the National Higher Diploma in Plastic Expression equivalent to the grade of Master (Bac +5).
On 16th March, it will host its annual Open Day for prospective students, art enthusiasts, and the general public to explore the institution’s facilities and programs.
This year, the Open Day will be conducted in both virtual and in-person formats. People will have the chance to meet with current students and faculty members, gain insights into the academic environment, and tour the various studios and workspaces that define the school’s creative atmosphere.
The virtual program includes a presentation about the school and its curriculum, led by the director of studies alongside teachers and students. This session is planned for 11am and will be accessible through the Pavillon Bosio’s official YouTube channel, providing an overview of the school’s approach to art and scenography education. The link to the Youtube channel can be found here.
The school has also announced that application forms for the entrance exam, as well as for the admission and equivalence commissions, are now available on its website here.
The theme for the 2024 edition of the Bal de la Rose, or Rose Ball, has been decided by its artistic director Christian Louboutin and Caroline, Princess of Hanover. The prestigious gala will gather privileged guests on 23rd March under the theme of disco, with legendary singer Gloria Gaynor headlining the entertainment for the evening.
Created by Princess Grace back in 1954, the Rose Ball has become a major date in the social calendar of Monaco and is an occasion that has, over the years, come to represent the glamourous heritage of the Principality.
Since the passing of Chanel’s Karl Lagerfeld, who served as the gala’s artistic director for many years, Christian Louboutin has stepped into the role to decide the theme and aesthetics of this fabulous event.
After a vibrant Bollywood theme in 2023 and a 1920s spectacle in 2022, both concepts chosen by Louboutin, this year will celebrate all things disco and Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer, which organises the party, has secured the perfect headline act.
Gloria Gaynor, known for title hits such as ‘I Will Survive’, ‘Let Me Know’ and ‘I Am What I Am’, will be taking to the prestigious stage to entertain a full house of VIP guests – tickets to the event have already completely sold out.
But music is just one element of the Bal de la Rose.
For decades now, the event has helped raise important funds for the Princess Grace Foundation, a charity founded in 1964 by the late Princess that is dedicated to developing humanitarian, philanthropic and cultural projects to improve the lives of children around the world.
As such, an auction featuring an exceptional array of prizes and lots is held each year during the Rose Ball.
Ahead of the main event, the director of the Opéra de Monte-Carlo, Cecilia Bartoli, will be performing a very special show alongside the internationally acclaimed piano virtuoso Lang Lang at the Opéra Garnier. More information about this part of the celebrations can be found here.
Whether you’re a prospective buyer, a seasoned investor, or simply leasing property in Monaco, understanding the complexities of one of the world’s most exclusive real estate markets is paramount. We speak to real estate lawyer Sophie Marquet to unravel the layers of challenges inherent in the pursuit of property transactions in the Principality.
Sophie Marquet is head of the Real Estate and Construction team at CMS Monaco. She is also one of the founding partners, an Avocat Défenseur at the Monaco Bar, and she has spent close to 20 years practising in the Monaco real estate market, both in litigation and counselling.
As Sophie Marquet explains, the Monaco property market is unlike anywhere else in the world, and given the sheer amount of money involved in any property transaction here, it makes sense to take certain steps and precautions.
Monaco Life: How does the Monaco real estate market differ from that in neighbouring France and other cities in the world?
Sophie Marquet: The size of the territory of Monaco makes the value of property extremely high here, and just Monaco itself – the environment, the safety of the Principality – makes it so special that it significantly increases prices. Combined, this makes it a very unique market in terms of value.
With this value comes many consequences, because owning real estate in Monaco is an investment, and people want to protect that investment. Not getting authorisation to undertake building works, for example, can have significant impact on your investment.
What is the difference between a real estate lawyer and a notary, which is mandatory for all property sales in the Principality?
There is a difference in the mission of a notary and a lawyer. Notaries guarantee the legality of a deed, and the fact that ownership of a property cannot be challenged by third parties. Most of the time, the notary is acting for both parties.
Our mission, as lawyers, is to make sure the transaction protects your best interests, either as a vendor or buyer, in view of your specific objectives, which requires independent and tailored advice.
As early as possible, because anything that is signed may be legally binding, and at that point you may be committed and engaged in liability or risk forfeiting a deposit as a purchaser.
Meanwhile, the costs of getting out of a binding contract – if at all possible – or the costs of litigation and legal advice later on in the process may be a lot higher than getting advice upfront.
People tend to see lawyers as litigators only, necessary for when there is a battle or problem to resolve, which is of course important. But lawyers are also here to provide advice upfront so you have a clear path, especially considering the value of real estate in Monaco.
In the early stages, people are generally only assisted by real estate professionals, who are very skilled at providing professional advice on aspects like the quality and value of the property, but not necessarily in legal aspects, and most importantly not on the pitfalls of acquisitions.
Often, the issues that we see relate to those preliminary documents, or later on when plans to do building works in the property are not given appropriate authorisations. These are the kinds of issues that could have been anticipated at the purchase phase. So, as soon as the project comes into your mind, I think you should seek advice.
What should buyers pay attention to in Monaco?
Buyers need to pay attention not only to the property itself, but also to the building, because most of the works being done need governmental and co-ownership authorisations.
It is very important that you know the rules of co-ownership in advance, and have information on the co-ownership of the building you are purchasing in, if doing works is important to you.
Seeking advice before buying or renting in Monaco can be less costly in the long run. Photo by Monaco Life
Are regulations more strict in Monaco?
I wouldn’t say they are more strict; I think they are carefully adapted to the specifics of the Principality and the market, but I can say that there are more instances where a permit for works is required, as opposed to France, for example.
What advice do you give people who are renting a property in Monaco?
Firstly, if something is of particular importance to a tenant, they should read the lease carefully before signing, because a lease is a contract, and once a contract is signed, they have to comply with it. For example, check simple things, like if animals are allowed in the apartment if you have a pet.
Secondly, I would encourage seeking legal advice as early as possible when you feel that there may be an issue with your rental relationship. Open and honest discussion with the landlord is always useful, but just don’t wait too long before you get legal advice. I hear a lot of misconceptions on tenants’ rights and duties in Monaco.
Landlords should also carefully draft their lease agreements, and assess the quality of the tenants prior signing, for predictability reasons.
Most importantly, landlords should carefully follow any defaults on the rental payment, as to avoid accumulating large debts. They are legitimate in requesting from the agencies to whom they confide the management of the property, that they reserve their rights and / or take legal action sooner rather than later, being conscious of any sign that a tenant may not be able to pay the rent any longer, or may even leave the Principality.
Because once they leave Monaco to enter another jurisdiction – even France – it makes the process of recovering the money more complicated. I see a lot of benefit to the landlords who take provisional measures upfront.
Airbnb rental is an issue that is being heavily debated in France and throughout Europe. How can owners prevent their property being used for financial gain, particularly during events such as the Monaco Grand Prix?
Landlords who do not want to allow sub-letting should make sure they carefully draft this into their lease agreements, and they should take immediate action in court to prevent/stop the practice if they find that there has been a breach of the contract.
My advice for the tenant is to very carefully read the lease agreement because there may be a risk of the lease being terminated for that reason alone.
And it is important to remember that Airbnb is a public platform, so it is very easy for someone to prove that their apartment was placed on Airbnb.
Building work is an essential part of property rights, but it can also be a real nuisance for neighbours. What advice would you give owners to preserve the value of their property?
There are rules within co-ownership, set by the règlement de copropriété, that the buyer is subject to. When you want authorisation for certain works, there are different types of votes, from the lenient to the strictest. Often, it may end up in a discussion/negotiation to compensate for the potential nuisances anticipated as a consequence of the projected works, regardless of whether the building rules – as complied with by the architect – have been thoroughly checked.
What we often see is that when someone wants to do works that will have an impact on the co-ownership because of noise or disturbance, the person can offer the co-ownership advance compensation – financial, repairing damage, or repainting regardless of damage, for example. This may facilitate obtaining a vote if the co-owners fear future nuisance. Old buildings are obviously more fragile, so the co-ownership is very legitimate in being concerned that the works could compromise the building.
In short, owners who would like to do building work in their property should seek legal advice early in the process beyond the assistance of their architect.
New construction sites are a common occurrence in Monaco. Photo by Monaco Life
Construction works and the development of new high rise buildings are a constant in Monaco. What are peoples’ rights in this regard?
If you want to have more information about potential building projects near a property you plan to buy or rent, take advice from a lawyer. We are able to determine the governmental authorisations in the area, and analyse whether it is subject to public/private easements. This will show if any properties have a restriction on being built any higher. A lot of people don’t actually do these checks, but it can be very useful, especially in a place like Monaco.
What about loss of sunlight and/or view by new building projects?
Some people think they have a right to sunlight and a view, per se, but that is not necessarily the case. Because Monaco is a small area, you cannot assume that there will never be a major project next to yours.
Firstly, we would make an analysis to assess building regulations and to determine if there is a private easement, as I mentioned earlier, that prohibits such a type of construction.
If you know that there will be a major project next to your home, seek legal advice. Beyond the legal analysis of any existing easements, we also work with experts, who can, for example, calculate how the light enters the apartment and from which angle, and how a new building may impact that light. The more proof you have, the better case you have in court to prove that you have a real prejudice.
It is possible to ask the jurisdiction to appoint an expert to analyse the impact before and, maybe in some extreme cases, stop the project completely pending further investigation.
If a tenant is renting a more luxurious property in Monaco but does not get the services promised and expected in the deal, what should they do?
Renting an exceptional property generally comes with exceptional services and materials, etc. So while the tenant is due to the pay the rent and comply with all the rules, the landlord also has a duty to provide the services contracted so that the tenant has jouissance paisible (peaceful enjoyment) of the property.
We have seen with case law that jurisdictions tend to recognise the prejudice caused by the landlord to the tenant for not providing the standards expected from renting such property, and to award damages. Such damages may compensate with the rents due where the tenant has defaulted in rental payment.
But it is important to note that a tenant is not entitled to default on rental payments first, just because there is a loss of service; they are risking termination of the lease. This is a typical case of seeking advice.
