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Month: June 2026

Hamilton wins for Ferrari in Barcelona as Leclerc retires

by: Cassandra Tanti
15/06/2026

Lewis Hamilton claimed his first victory as a Ferrari driver at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix on Sunday, ending an 18-month wait and delivering the Maranello marque its 249th Formula 1 win. It is Hamilton’s 106th career victory, and it came at the very circuit where Michael Schumacher took his first win in red.

George Russell finished second for Mercedes, with Lando Norris third for McLaren. Championship leader Kimi Antonelli retired late while running second, handing Hamilton the breathing room he needed to close out the win. Charles Leclerc, who had fought his way through the field from 10th on the grid, was also forced to retire with four laps remaining — a hydraulic issue ending what had been a strong recovery drive.

How it unfolded

Hamilton started from the front row on used Soft tyres and settled into second place behind Russell. Leclerc, starting tenth on new Mediums, was up to seventh by the end of lap one. Ferrari’s strategy across three pit stops was aggressive but precise, and the defining moment came on lap 40 when Fernando Alonso stopped on track, triggering a Virtual Safety Car. Hamilton made his final pit stop in effectively half the usual time while keeping the lead, emerging with fresher tyres than anyone around him. From there, nobody could live with his pace.

Leclerc had been making his case for a points finish, breaking into the top six before the hydraulic failure ended his afternoon. Antonelli’s retirement in the closing laps — the championship leader dropping out while running second — completed a damaging finale for those chasing Hamilton.

The reaction

“This is an incredibly special moment,” Hamilton said. “Winning my first race with Ferrari is something I’ve dreamt about since I was a child, and to finally achieve it feels incredible. There were moments last year when this moment felt almost impossible, but I’m so grateful to Fred for believing in me and everyone there for making me feel so at home. Ferrari has the greatest fans in the world and seeing their passion, their energy and their support makes this victory even more meaningful. This is a day I’ll never forget, and I hope it’s the first of many wins that we can celebrate together.”

Leclerc was measured in defeat. “There was an issue on my car towards the end of the race, and unfortunately, I had to retire early. Our team should be proud of the upgrades we brought to the car, which ramped up our performance to this level. Congratulations to Lewis for his first win with the team, he did a great job this weekend and put it all together today.”

Team principal Frédéric Vasseur pointed to the broader significance of a result that marks Ferrari’s sixth podium in seven races this season. “The past year and a half has been quite difficult, with plenty of ups and downs, so to win today is a huge push for us. From lap 1, we knew tyre management would be the key and in that respect Lewis did a fantastic job all race long. He was in control of the situation, pushing when we asked him to. Our strategy was aggressive but that is what you can afford to do when you have the pace for the win.”

Formula 1 resumes on 28th June at the Austrian Grand Prix in Spielberg.

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Photo credit: Scuderia Ferrari Media Centre

Interview: Kristin Scott Thomas on Slow Horses, Hollywood and why she stayed in Europe

by: Cassandra Tanti
15/06/2026

Dame Kristin Scott Thomas collected her Crystal Nymph at the opening ceremony of the 65th Monte-Carlo Television Festival on Thursday night. The following morning, she sat down with the press at the Grimaldi Forum. Monaco Life was in the room.

Season 6 of Slow Horses — the Apple TV+ espionage drama in which Scott Thomas plays MI5 boss Diana Taverner opposite Gary Oldman’s Jackson Lamb — premieres on 16th September, with Season 7 already confirmed. The new series centres on Taverner drawing the Slough House team into a high-stakes game of retaliation and revenge.

On the dynamic between her character and Oldman’s: “We’ve worked together before. We’ve got very good acting chemistry. And it’s really fun. These two characters are so brilliantly written. You can’t beat great writing.” On what makes it work: “Diana and Jackson Lamb, they balance each other out. He’s filthy and she’s perfect. Together, despite themselves, they make a very good team.”

The show, she said, has admirers in unexpected places. “Apparently, all the MI6 and MI5, they love it. They really love watching it. We’ve never seen people like this. We’ve never seen the inside of these spy places.”

Coming from film, the pace of long-form television took adjustment. “During Slow Horses, there were times, which were perhaps a little bit like ‘Oh, I’ve got to get into another lift. That’s the nature of long form TV. But then, I’ll get this fantastic scene with Sophie Okonedo, which is amazing to do, or James Callis or Sam West. You get these fantastic moments of sparring, which are really fun.”

The role has also changed her off-screen. “What has astonished me is that sometimes in my life people have accused me of being frightening, and I go, ‘What are you talking about?’ And then I saw Slow Horses and oh my god, I just saw the way this woman looks at people and I thought, oh, I get it now. I’ve been really, really careful in my life [since] to smile a lot. It has changed my way of being.”

Asked what she wants for Taverner in the seasons ahead: “I’d love to see her laugh. I mean, properly laugh, not laugh at someone, but laugh. I’d love to see her sing or hum something. I’d love to see her happy. You don’t often see her happy. You see her satisfied, you see her gloating and you see her relieved, but you don’t actually see her happy. You don’t see her relaxed, ever.” One thing she is clear she does not want: “The one thing I do not want to have to do is get into another lift, because I hate the lighting in the lifts.”

Prince Albert II presenting the Crystal Nymph award to Dame Kirstin Scott Thomas on Friday evening in Monaco

Television, film and theatre

Slow Horses has shifted how the public relates to her, and she has thought about it carefully. “When you are doing a TV show, you are being watched in someone’s living room, on their phone. They have control of when you appear, because they press the button. When you do a film, they make the commitment to go to you. Now, people think they know me, because I’m in their living room. It’s a much more personal connection. I’ve really noticed that.”

“In the theater, people are really friendly and open. When they come up to you afterwards, they saw you on stage, and they really appreciate the work that you’ve done. When you’re on film, they’re slightly in awe, because you’re so big. But on television, the image can be the size of your phone. So suddenly, they’re more powerful than you. If I’m in the street and somebody comes up to me and says, ‘I love Slow Horses,’ they feel empowered to tell you that, because they invited you into their house.”

A second film

A second project as writer and director is underway, following her debut feature My Mother’s Wedding, in which she starred alongside Scarlett Johansson and Sienna Miller. This time she will not appear on screen.

“It’s an adaptation of a novel,” she said, describing it as a contemporary work — a different challenge from My Mother’s Wedding, which drew on her own life following the loss of both her father and her stepfather to air accidents. “It’s a very different challenge.” The script is written. The aim is to go into production in 2027.

Dame Kirstin Scott Thomas giving interviews at the 65th Monte-Carlo Television Festival

Why she didn’t go to Hollywood

At the peak of her film career, the move to Los Angeles was there to be made. She didn’t make it.

“That was for a very specific reason, which is that I really loved European cinema, and I continue to love European cinema. There’s something about a little French film made with £2.50 and with 25 people that I just love. And I liked being in theater, so that’s why I didn’t go that way.”

There were moments of doubt. “Of course, there were times where I kicked myself [about not making the move], but on the whole, I’m really glad that I have been able to go off and do x, y, and z. To go and do a Nicolas Winding Refn film, or just the really fun, mad thing.”

Slow Horses Season 6 premieres on Apple TV+ on 16th September.

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All photos sourced from Monte-Carlo Television Festival

Himalayan yogi Ramchandra Das to bring three-day yoga and meditation retreat to Monaco

by: Cassandra Tanti
15/06/2026

Ramchandra Das, founder of the Sri Aurobindo Yoga Mandir in Nepal, will lead a three-day series of yoga workshops, meditation sessions and conferences in Monaco from 29 June to 1 July, with proceeds supporting the ashram’s orphanage and educational projects in Nepal.

The event, organised by CATS Events at Le Forum on Boulevard Princesse Charlotte, is open to all levels. Each day takes a distinct theme — Stability and Simplicity on Monday, Service and Transformation on Tuesday, and Integration on Wednesday — combining breathwork, guided meditation and deep relaxation. A conference on living yoga as a way of life takes place on Tuesday afternoon, with a book presentation and signing session. Conferences are free to attend.

A pop-up shop selling Nepalese artisan products will also be available throughout the three days, with proceeds going to the same cause.

Tickets: single workshop €15, half-day €25, full day €50, three-day pass €120. For reservations and information: ram@cats.mc or +377 99 99 76 76.

Le Forum, 6th floor, 28 Boulevard Princesse Charlotte, Monaco.

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Image provided

Record-breaking fleet set for 13th Monaco Energy Boat Challenge

by: Virginia D’Umas
15/06/2026

The Yacht Club de Monaco is set to transform the Principality into the global epicentre of sustainable maritime innovation this summer, as it prepares to host the 13th edition of the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge from 8th to 11th July.

This year’s event signals a new peak for the challenge, which has rapidly evolved from a niche student competition into a major international showcase for zero-emission technology. A record-breaking 56 teams from 22 nations have confirmed their participation—the highest turnout since the event’s inception in 2014. Notably, this year’s fleet includes inaugural entries from the United States and China, further cementing Monaco’s reputation as a vital laboratory for the future of clean yachting.

Accelerating the maritime energy transition

As a cornerstone of the ‘Monaco, Capital of Advanced Yachting’ initiative, the challenge serves to unite students, pioneering engineers, and established industry leaders under a shared mission: to accelerate the energy transition at sea.

“The Monaco Energy Boat Challenge allows us to test ideas against reality,” explains Bernard d’Alessandri, General Secretary of the Yacht Club de Monaco. “Here, teams trial their technologies in genuine conditions, engage directly with industry experts, and share their findings. It is this hands-on, practical approach that gives the event its true value.”

Four categories of innovation

To ensure a comprehensive evaluation of emerging technologies, the 56 teams are divided into four competitive classes. The Energy Class focuses on propulsion efficiency and design, while the AI Class is dedicated to the development of autonomous, pilotless vessels. The SeaLab Class provides a space for radical experimental prototypes, and the Open Sea Xperience features CE-certified, zero-emission vessels that are ready for immediate commercial application.

Photo credits: Studio Borlenghi, YCM

Open Sea Xperience: Testing the future of yachting

The Open Sea Xperience has emerged as a strategic highlight of the event, bridging the gap between academic experimentation and the commercial market. It offers shipyards and brands a unique environment to test performance, range, and energy efficiency against real-world operational constraints.

The 2026 edition will showcase the rapid evolution of alternative propulsion, with electric and hydrogen-powered models leading the charge. Notable entries include the 16-metre Wia 520HT by Wia Electric Yachts, designed for silent, long-distance cruising, and the cutting-edge KRONOS 300 motor from Weenav, capable of delivering over 300 horsepower continuously. Visitors will have free access to the paddocks to inspect these vessels, providing a rare opportunity to witness the future of sustainable yachting first-hand.

2025 champions honoured at the Monaco E-Prix

The momentum behind these technologies was recently celebrated at the Monaco E-Prix, where the 2025 winners were honoured, underscoring the increasing synergy between automotive and maritime innovation. Among those recognised were the University of Antwerp’s UAntwerp Solar Boat Team (AI Class winners) and the University of Bologna’s Red Wave team (SeaLab winners).

The overall 2025 champions, the University of Bologna’s UniBoAT team, were also celebrated for their dominant performance. Their victory was a masterclass in engineering, combining a lightweight hull, high-performance batteries, and a bespoke contra-rotating motor that set a new benchmark for efficiency.

A legacy of global collaboration

Since 2014, the event has acted as a catalyst for sustainable change, with over 6,500 students from 50 universities participating in the challenge’s history. This international ecosystem continues to thrive with the support of major industry players such as Safe Harbor.

“With the Yacht Club de Monaco, we are committed to promoting a more sustainable vision of yachting,” says Tanguy Ducros, Senior Vice President of Business Development Europe at Safe Harbor. “The ocean is our common responsibility. Preserving it means promoting responsible practices and inspiring collective change for a better future.”

A forum for industry advancement

Beyond the on-water races, the event serves as a high-level forum for professional development. On 9th July, the Advanced Yachting Technology Conference will explore the latest industry breakthroughs. This will be followed on 10th July by the Alternative Fuels & Sustainable Yachting Conference, organised by the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, which will host critical debates on the potential of wind, methanol, nuclear, and advanced battery solutions.

The event’s commitment to the next generation of maritime professionals remains stronger than ever. Through a dedicated Corporate Mentoring Programme and a Job Forum, the Yacht Club de Monaco provides a crucial link between top-tier students and industry giants such as Oceanco, Ferretti Group, Azimut | Benetti Group, and Lürssen.

With over 1,000 students set to descend on the Principality this July, the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge remains a cornerstone of the global movement toward a more sustainable, and sophisticated, future at sea. 

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Photo credits: Studio Borlenghi, YCM

Monaco’s open-air cinema returns for summer 2026 with blockbuster line-up and upgraded experience

by: Cassandra Tanti
15/06/2026

One of Monaco’s most beloved summer traditions is set to return this month as the Monaco Open Air Cinema reopens atop the Parking des Pêcheurs, bringing blockbuster premieres, family favourites and cinematic classics back to one of the most spectacular movie settings in Europe.

Perched beneath the Rock of Monaco with sweeping views across the Mediterranean, the Monaco Open Air Cinema has been entertaining audiences under the stars since 1948. For summer 2026, the venue returns with a packed programme of major international releases, including The Odyssey, Supergirl, Toy Story 5, The Devil Wears Prada 2, Michael and Disney favourite Moana, all screened in their original language with French subtitles.

This year’s season also introduces a significant technical upgrade with the installation of a new 4K laser projector, promising sharper images and enhanced viewing quality on what organisers describe as Europe’s largest open-air cinema screen, spanning an impressive 220 square metres. The venue’s renowned Dolby Surround 7.1 sound system also returns, ensuring an immersive experience for film lovers.

Photo source: Monaco Open Air Cinema

A unique Monaco summer experience

Few cinemas in the world can rival the setting of Monaco’s outdoor theatre. Located on the roof of the Parking des Pêcheurs at the foot of the Prince’s Palace, the venue combines the atmosphere of a traditional cinema with the relaxed feel of a Riviera summer evening.

Guests can settle into one of 500 cushioned seats while enjoying panoramic views over the Mediterranean before the screenings begin. A dedicated lounge area offers a more relaxed viewing experience, while the popular CinéBar returns with champagne, wine, cocktails and refreshments alongside snacks including hot dogs, cheeseburgers, paninis, brownies and ice cream. Dogs on leads are also welcome.

Opening with the summer’s biggest films

The 2026 programme begins on 19th June and features a rotating selection of major Hollywood releases throughout June and July. Highlights include the highly anticipated Michael Jackson biopic Michael, the return of Miranda Priestly in The Devil Wears Prada 2, the latest adventures from Toy Story 5, and Christopher Nolan’s epic adaptation of The Odyssey. A free screening of the documentary The Wedding in Monaco is also scheduled for 25th July.

The cinema opens nightly at 9pm, with screenings beginning at 10pm throughout the early summer season, allowing audiences to enjoy films against the backdrop of Monaco’s star-filled night sky.

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Photo by Cassandra Tanti

E1 Team Monaco reaches second final of the season with fifth place in Dubrovnik

by: Cassandra Tanti
15/06/2026

E1 Team Monaco delivered one of its strongest performances of the season at the third round of the UIM E1 World Championship by PIF in Dubrovnik last Friday, reaching the final and finishing fifth — only for a technical failure to deny the team what would have been its first podium in the all-electric raceboat series.

The E1 Series is the world’s first all-electric powerboat championship, sanctioned by the Union Internationale Motonautique. Each team fields both a male and a female pilot, racing purpose-built electric RaceBirds capable of reaching speeds of up to 60 knots. Team Monaco, which joined the championship as a new entrant this season, is co-owned by male pilot Maxime Nocher.

Strong start, then a cruel setback

Female pilot Oban Duncan made an outstanding start in the final, immediately moving into third position and putting the team in genuine podium contention. The race was red-flagged after Team Miami’s RaceBird lost its nose section, forcing a restart — and it was the aftermath of that incident that ultimately cost Team Monaco.

The impact from the boat wash had damaged the RaceBird’s windscreen cover, leaving Duncan racing with severely compromised visibility and the boat taking on water. Running in third place, the RaceBird suddenly lost all power mid-straight. The team reacted by switching to a short lap strategy to stay in contention, a plan that held for three laps before the engine isolation system failed entirely, ending the race and the prospect of a podium.

“The conditions were tough, we made two excellent starts and had real pace — but we took a significant impact which ultimately meant we couldn’t finish the race,” said Duncan. “The windscreen cover came off after the restart, which made visibility very difficult, and the boat was also taking on water. It has been a very tough day, but I am proud of how we fought until the very end.”

Focus turns to Monaco

Nocher acknowledged the disappointment but pointed to the team’s improving pace ahead of its home race next month.

“I am proud of the team. We had the podium in our hands and were running P3 when we had to retire — it could have been our first podium of the season,” he said. “Now our focus turns to our home race in Monaco. We hope to have the boat fix all the part change where we have issue and be able to fully push for the result we know we are capable of. Our pace has improved significantly, and we want to show what this team can really do when everything comes together.”

Team Monaco leaves Dubrovnik seventh in the championship standings with 33 points, with Round 4 of the UIM E1 World Championship taking place in the Principality on 17th and 18th July.

Westbrook take back-to-back victories

Will Smith’s Angola Westbrook Racing claimed victory at the E1 Dubrovnik GP, with pilots Lucas Ordóñez and Sara Price overcoming high winds and choppy conditions to extend the team’s championship lead to 12 points.

It was back-to-back GP victories for Westbrook, who dominated their group stage before Ordóñez sealed the win in a disrupted Final 2 — red-flagged after Team Miami’s nose section detached following a high-impact collision with a wave. Team Brady finished second through pilots Emma Kimiläinen and Sam Coleman, keeping the title race alive, while LeBron James’s Team AlUla completed the podium. The NBA star was among those watching from the Dalmatian Coast, alongside fellow NBA star Kyle Kuzma and tennis legend Rafael Nadal.

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Photo source: E1