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Day: 15 September 2025

Maximilian Günther confirmed for second season with DS PENSKE in Formula E

by: Cassandra Tanti
15/09/2025

German racing driver Maximilian Günther will remain with DS Penske for the upcoming 2025/26 FIA Formula E World Championship, marking his eighth season in the all-electric series.

The Franco-American DS Penske outfit has been a fixture in Formula E since its debut season in 2014/15 and has built a reputation as one of the sport’s benchmark teams, with four World Championship titles to its name.

From youngest race winner to team leader

Monaco resident Maxililian Günther, from Oberstdorf in Germany, first joined DS Penske in 2018 and returned to the squad ahead of the 2024/25 season following spells with BMW-Andretti, Nissan, and Maserati. In just his 13th start, he etched his name in the record books as Formula E’s youngest race winner at 22 years old.

Now an established front-runner, Günther has amassed seven career victories, 12 podiums and four pole positions from 99 starts. His most recent campaign saw him claim wins in Jeddah and Shanghai, including leading DS Penske to its first-ever 1-2 finish in the series.

Continuing the partnership

By extending his relationship with DS Penske, Günther will continue to race under the banner of DS Performance, the French manufacturer that has secured 18 wins, 55 podiums, 26 pole positions and four World Championships since joining Formula E in 2015.

The 28-year-old says he is already looking forward to the challenge ahead. “I’m excited to enter my second season as a DS Penske driver. Our first season together was filled with lots of quality, strong performances and highlights. To be building on this base is something that I‘m very much looking forward to. Having Taylor as my new teammate is fantastic, he is a brilliant driver and a great addition to our team. There’s an incredible spirit running through the whole team and I can’t wait to get the new season started!”

Pre-season build-up

Preparations for Season 12 are already underway. Günther will return to the cockpit this October for official pre-season testing at Valencia’s Circuit Ricardo Tormo, before the campaign kicks off with the São Paulo E-Prix on 6th December 2025.

See also: 

Podcast + Video: Maximilian Günther on the strategy, speed, and spectacle of Formula E

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Photo source: DS Penske

 

Samy Sass takes Monaco flair to Portugal with new Cabana Sass’ Algarve

by: Cassandra Tanti
15/09/2025

Monaco restaurateur and entrepreneur Samy Sass is expanding his celebrated brand beyond the Principality, unveiling Cabana Sass’ Algarve on 12th September. Nestled in Portugal’s prestigious Golden Triangle, the new venture captures the Sass lifestyle in a setting where Mediterranean authenticity meets Atlantic soul.

Best known in Monaco for Sass Café, a long-standing institution that has attracted royalty, celebrities and international tastemakers for decades, Samuel ‘Samy’ Sass is now exporting the Sass philosophy of dining and lifestyle to Portugal.

“Cabana Sass’ Algarve is about creating a refined yet relaxed escape, where nature, design, food and music meet,” he explained ahead of the opening. The concept offers guests a sanctuary amid a pine forest on the Atlantic coastline, combining the vibrancy of Mediterranean living with the laid-back rhythm of the Algarve.

Photo credit: Fabbio Galatioto

A vision realised through design

The architecture and project execution were led by ERG Dreams with Ana Águas overseeing management, while design house Yodezeen provided the conceptual framework.

Viterbo Interior Design then brought the spaces to life, ensuring the interiors reflected a balance of simplicity, natural textures and understated luxury. The result is a seamless blend of contemporary elegance and coastal authenticity, aligned with the Sass brand’s hallmark of refined yet welcoming environments.

Photo credit: Fabbio Galatioto

Mediterranean flavours with Atlantic soul

At the heart of Cabana Sass’ Algarve is a menu celebrating seasonal, locally sourced ingredients. Ocean-inspired dishes highlight Portugal’s coastal richness while staying true to Sass’ Mediterranean heritage. Every element, from food to music, has been curated to immerse guests in the dual influences of the region. Evenings are enhanced with curated DJ sets, creating a soundtrack that reflects both Monaco’s sophistication and Portugal’s coastal charm.

See also: 

Interview: Samy Sass’ on taking the Sass’ Café spirit global, one city at a time

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Main photo credit: Fabbio Galatioto

Monaco celebrates 30th European Heritage Days with focus on architecture

by: Cassandra Tanti
15/09/2025

Monaco will once again take part in the European Heritage Days, offering the public the rare chance to explore the Principality’s cultural treasures. The 30th edition, set for Sunday 5th October 2025, will be dedicated to the theme of Architectural Heritage, highlighting Monaco’s rich and diverse built environment and its evolution through history.

Launched by the Council of Europe and the European Union, the European Heritage Days are now celebrated in more than 50 countries, drawing some 30 million visitors each year to over 70,000 events. Monaco has participated since 1996, opening up its cultural institutions, monuments, and hidden gems to residents and visitors alike.

Cross-border highlights

This year’s celebrations will begin on Saturday 4th October with a special cross-border itinerary to the Villa Eilenroc, a neoclassical jewel located on the Cap d’Antibes.

On Sunday 5th October, more than 30 sites and institutions in the Principality will exceptionally open their doors, inviting the public to discover Monaco’s cultural and architectural heritage from new perspectives.

The programme includes guided tours of construction sites, children’s workshops at the Studios de la Costa designed to introduce younger generations to ideas of space and design, and architectural walks that spotlight both landmark monuments and lesser-known buildings – including tours of the new Mareterra district.

Expert insight on Monaco’s architectural story

For the first time, Monaco will welcome Jean-Philippe Hugron, journalist and historian of architecture, and author of Guide d’architecture Monaco : Beausoleil – Roquebrune-Cap Martin (2021). He will lead two thematic itineraries – Art nouveau, art déco, nouvelles modernités, and À Monaco, la tradition de la nouveauté.

His insights will provide a deeper understanding of how Monaco’s architectural identity has continually balanced tradition with innovation.

Practical details

The full programme of the 30th European Heritage Days in Monaco is available at: journeepatrimoinemonaco.com

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Main photo credit: Cassandra Tanti

Air traffic controllers suspend September strike but new dates loom in October

by: Cassandra Tanti
15/09/2025

Travellers heading through France’s airports on 18th September can breathe a sigh of relief, at least partially. The SNCTA, the country’s main air traffic controllers’ union, has announced the suspension of its strike notice originally planned for that date. However, the reprieve is only temporary: a new three-day strike has already been scheduled for 7th, 8th and 9th October.

The decision comes in the wake of the collapse of the Bayrou government. With the appointment of a new Prime Minister and the need to form a government, the SNCTA argued it no longer has a valid negotiating partner until the new head of the civil aviation authority (DGAC), Chems Chkioua, formally takes office on 1st October.

“The date of September 18 is no longer compatible with the possibility of bringing our demands to a successful conclusion, due to a lack of interlocutors and the necessary time devoted to them,” the SNCTA said in a statement.

This isn’t the first time political turmoil has disrupted industrial action. In June 2024, the dissolution of the National Assembly also prompted air traffic controllers to withdraw a strike notice.

What passengers should expect on 18th September

Despite the SNCTA’s suspension, other unions including UNSA and CGT have not lifted their strike calls. Disruptions therefore remain possible, particularly at Paris’s major hubs, Roissy Charles de Gaulle and Orly. The grievances are wide-ranging: inflation-driven pay demands, unresolved governance issues at the DGAC, and anger over the recent introduction of biometric badge readers in control centres.

October showdown ahead

By shifting its mobilisation to October, the SNCTA—representing around 60% of the profession—is keeping the pressure on. The union hopes the new government will have time to respond to demands, but the looming three-day strike could prove especially disruptive for French aviation.

At the top of the agenda is pay. The union argues controllers’ salaries should be indexed to inflation, just like the fees airlines already pay to fund civil aviation.

Perhaps most contentious is the compulsory rollout of biometric badge readers to monitor working hours, imposed by decree and seen by many controllers as an attack on long-standing practices. Unions argue the measure is not only heavy-handed but may also lack legal validity.

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Photo credit: Cassandra Tanti