Another technical failure befell Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari on Sunday, as he once again failed to convert a strong qualifying at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix while Max Verstappen eked-out his championship lead.
The season is yet young, and the 34-point gap that separates Leclerc and Verstappen is far from insurmountable, but Sunday’s engine failure on the streets of Baku is nonetheless a “significant” blow to Leclerc’s title aspirations.
Despite four consecutive pole positions, Leclerc has failed to convert either into a race win, whilst he has only managed to finish on the podium once in that run. A technical failure at the Spanish GP, a poor choice of strategy on a drying Monaco track at his home Grand Prix, and now an engine failure means that he hasn’t finished on the podium since taking second in Miami in early May.
After hopping out of his stricken Ferrari, Leclerc said, “It feels bad, it hurts. It’s more than significant. I don’t really have the words. It is just a huge disappointment and I hope that we can jump back from it and be on top of these things.”
Prior to his retirement, Leclerc had endured a difficult start to Sunday’s race. The pole-sitter was beaten off the line by Monaco winner Sergio Perez. The Red Bull driver took the inside line into turn one, as Leclerc locked-up on the outside line and was fortunate not to cede another position to Verstappen.
But having damaged his tyres, it was to be a difficult first stint for Leclerc, who was forced to defend from Verstappen instead of chasing after the leader. Ferrari lost their first driver on lap nine, as Carlos Sainz was forced to stop on track.
Charles Leclerc racing at the Azerbaijan GP, credit: Scuderia Ferrari Press Office
Leclerc pitted under the virtual safety car that ensued, and took the lead after Verstappen and Perez completed their pit stop. During that time, Verstappen had briefly taken the lead of the race as Perez was told not to fight the flying Dutchman, who had superior pace to his Mexican team-mate.
Leclerc looked to have better pace in the second stint, and post-race he revealed that he was managing the tyres well, but Ferrari’s day would go from bad to worse. On the long start/finish straight, a plume of smoke was seen billowing from Leclerc’s single-seater as his race ended prematurely on lap 21.
Unchallenged, Red Bull took the one-two, whilst George Russell rounded off the podium ahead of team-mate Lewis Hamilton who, not for the first time this season, mustered an impressive comeback having found himself in 11th after the first round of stops.
Not only does Verstappen extend his lead to 34 points, but Leclerc also drops behind Perez, who now has a 13-point lead over the Monégasque driver, whilst “Mr. Consistency” Russell is only 17 points behind. The Brit is the only driver to have finished in the top five in every race this season.
Leclerc is looking to put this difficult patch behind him as the paddock departs for North America. “It’s time to go home and reset before Canada,” said the Ferrari driver.
Ferrari have the chance to bounce back quickly with only a week in between races, but Red Bull’s race pace, coupled with Ferrari’s reliability issues, spells trouble for Leclerc’s title challenge, which began so promisingly with two wins in the first three races. There is now little room for error for Ferrari, or for Leclerc.
Photo of Charles Leclerc credit: Scuderia Ferrari Press Office
AS Monaco Women bounced back from last weekend’s first-leg defeat against Bourges to progress to a play-off final against Toulouse, the first leg of which will take place in Beausoleil next weekend.
On a sweltering Sunday on the Riviera, fans packed into the Stade du Prince Héréditaire Jacques to spur on a side that have rarely tasted defeat this season, but did so in the first leg of the crucial play-off tie. Coming in with a one goal deficit against Bourges, the home side needed to score at least twice to progress.
The Ultras were in attendance at the match and provided a great atmosphere throughout, as the start of the match was accompanied by a smokey pyrotechnic display from their corner. Only minutes later, Monaco took the lead. Through on goal, Laura Domecq’s cut back was neatly converted by Kenza Chircop to level the scores on aggregate.
Monaco got a scare just seconds later as Bourges had the ball in the net, only for the Bourges attacker to be adjudged to be in an offside position.
The pivotal moment in the game came midway through the first-half. Through on goal, Domecq was tripped by Bourges’ Meta Camara, leaving the referee no choice but to brandish a red card. A player up and a goal up, Monaco were now firm favourites to grab the goal that would see them progress.
But they would have to wait for it. As Monaco midfielder Maddie Weston told Monaco Life, “You have to be patient, sometimes the easiest goals won’t go in, but then the craziest ones do go in. When we do have those chances, I think we have to work harder and better to make sure they are finished because as we advance further into the playoffs, perhaps those chances don’t come as often.”
Domecq hit the bar from just six yards out, before Chircop’s poorly hit strike from within the six yard box hit the post before dribbling agonisingly across the line and hitting the other post.
Monaco did eventually get their second mid-way through the second-half. As the 10 players of Bourges tired in the heat, the Principality side profited from their numerical advantage to create overloads. Domecq got on the scoresheet, converting Bree Fuller’s cutback before Moeko Morse added a third to give the home side margin for error.
They would be grateful for it, as Monaco had to endure a nervy finish. Christelle Léger’s long-range effort beat the goalkeeper and left Monaco hanging on in the dying seconds of the tie. But hold on they did, and victory leaves them within two games of promotion to D2.
Post-match manager Stéphane Guigo reflected on their comeback victory. He told Monaco Life, “We don’t have the habit of losing. That gave them a shot in the arm, we got our heads right again this week and we worked hard to get the result today.” AS Monaco Women’s development manager Thomas Martini added, “It was a logical defeat in the first leg, we have to be honest. Today we saw more of what we’ve seen since the start of the season: effort and efficiency. We found a collective and that’s what we lacked in the first match.”
Weston added, “Losing isn’t a known feeling to us, but as great as that is, it lit a fire in us. It’s okay that it happens and we learn from it. It taught us to be more patient in this game and not force the ball over the top.”
She continued, “We got the job done today, but we’re not finished. We have two more games to win to get to our ultimate goal of getting up to D2.”
Guigo is expecting a tough match against Toulouse, stating, “I think we’re the underdog. It’s a former professional side. They have an ambitious project. We’ll welcome next week with a lot of humility. On the play-off final, Martini added, “Toulouse will be a level up. They are a team that likes to play from the back. It will be a very different scenario. In terms of quality, I think it will be 50/50. It will be the team that approaches the game the best that will go up to D2.”
The fixture seems finely poised, and Monaco will be hoping to get off to a good start when they host Toulouse in Beausoleil next weekend.
The Blue Climate Summit, co-convened by Prince Albert, last month set out to advance ocean-related solutions to climate change through concrete, actionable projects. The outcomes are in.
More than 200 scientists, business and political leaders, youth advocates and environmentalists gathered together from 14th to 20th May in French Polynesia for the Blue Climate Summit, organised by the Blue Climate Initiative.
A few themes took precedence at the conference, first and foremost, the need to strike a better balance between the oceans and man. It was hit home that without a strong marine environment, mankind will suffer.
“The living ocean, all of it, is inextricably connected to Earth’s climate and to the existence of life, humans very much included,” said Dr Sylvia Earle, an American marine biologist, oceanographer, explorer, author, and lecturer.
Next up was the importance of ocean health on human health. Threats are being made to the marine world in unimaginable ways. One such threat is deep sea mining. An obscure Jamaican entity called The International Seabed Authority is planning to issue deep sea mining licenses without knowing what this kind of disruptive project will do to the fragile ecosystems of the sea floors.
It is thought that large pieces of pristine ocean beds will be destroyed, whilst releasing massive plumes of debris, which will certainly affect life above. Participants at the Summit called for more scientific research to be made to learn what the impact and consequences of such explorative mining will cause.
President Édouard Fritch, whose country hosted the event, made clear his determination to create a better situation for the seas, saying, “With the largest managed marine area in the world and its 19,000 km2 Biosphere Reserve, our people of the largest ocean continent carry a message to offer to the world. On the occasion of the Blue Climate Summit, I invite the world to come to French Polynesia, to listen to us and, above all, to hear us.”
The Blue Climate Summit was regarded as not an event, but as a launchpad to important initiatives, though the plans will mean nothing unless they are followed up by action. To this end, the next several months will be critical to advancing, implementing and scaling the initiatives agreed upon.
The Summit was co-hosted by the Government of French Polynesia alongside other public and private institutions. Co-conveners included Prince Albert II of Monaco, President Edouard Fritch of French Polynesia, master navigator Nainoa Thompson from the Polynesian Voyaging Society, world-renowned oceanographer Dr. Sylvia Earle, international environmental advocate Laura Turner, Richard Bailey, CEO of Pacific Beachcomber in Tahiti, Andrew Forrest, co-founder of the Minderoo Foundation, and Marc Benioff, co-founder and co-CEO of SalesForce.
Photo of the Hōkūleʻa ceremony at Taputapuātea, the UNESCO World Heritage site, on Raʻiatea, supplied.
“I am inspired by professional working women everywhere”
Donata Davidoff was born in Lithuania to a creative family who encouraged her to pursue her passions. Although, during her early years, Lithuania didn’t have a luxury fashion industry, Donata enjoyed exploring the incredible artisanship of her home country: garment workers (mostly women) who had impeccable tailoring techniques passed down through generations.
It was this interest in craftmanship and detail that led Donata, aged 18, to win a place to study on the prestigious Central St. Martin’s design course – the very first Lithuanian to ever do so.
Having since travelled extensively around the world accruing knowledge of art, architecture, design and the lifestyle of creative, entrepreneurial women, Donata wanted to create a fashion house that mirrored her life and experiences.
In 2017 in Chelsea, London, Donata Davidoff – an independent demi-couture atelier – was launched. The design ethos has never changed: to create timeless wardrobe staples to couture standards for contemporary, stylish women.
Monaco Life: How did you get into the world of fashion design?
Donata Davidoff: When I was growing up in Lithuania in the 1980s, fashion was non-existent, but I was exposed to artisans as my mother was a seamstress, and my grandmother was a poet and a painter.
When I moved to London to study fashion and design at Central St. Martin’s, I was overwhelmed by the different trends and street styles and that is when I started experimenting with my own personal style.
After finishing my studies at Central St. Martins, I worked for a fashion design agency advising on trends and forecasts for other fashion companies, and soon after started my own beach line MillyMoy. With experience, my style has evolved and so has my appreciation for timeless pieces, which led me to start a new line Donata Davidoff.
When did you produce your first collection and what inspired you?
I launched my second line Donata Davidoff in 2018. Having lived in five different countries and travelled extensively around the world, I have accrued the knowledge of art, architecture and design. I wanted to create a fashion house that mirrored my life and experiences. The idea was born to create timeless wardrobe staples to couture quality for contemporary, stylish women.
I am inspired by professional working women everywhere. I aim to provide the perfect capsule wardrobe that is season-less and timeless, yet modern and aspirational. The label reflects our clients and it is very personal. I try to meet all our clients and respond to their needs and wants. I want to celebrate and empower women, embrace their strengths and potential through clothes. What we wear says so much about us and what we want to say to the world. Dressing up gives us confidence, an innate elegance. This lies at the heart of everything I do.’
Tell us about your latest collection and the inspiration behind it?
My latest collection was inspired by my muse Lauren Hutton. She represents to me true timeless elegance. I wanted to create a collection that is understated but still chic, using luxury fabrics; polished looks with some sustainable vegan leather pieces, and flowy silk dresses that can be worn to a pool party or dressed up with heals and turned into a ball gown; impeccable tailoring of masculine suits crafted from the most luxurious Loro Piana fabrics, which turned out to be our best sellers. We also added sustainable linen dresses that have understated details such a fabric covered buttons, French lace trimmings.
Donata Davidoff
Which are your favourite stand-out pieces from the current collection?
My favourite stand-out pieces would be the green open back maxi dress and beige Loro Piana wool suit.
How do you incorporate sustainability into your collections?
When I launched my brand, I knew that sustainability and fair-trade clothing were not just trends, but a cause we can all become a part of to secure the future of the upcoming generations. Therefore, a commitment to sustainability is a commitment to balancing the short and long-term supply and demand of resources.
When it comes to fashion, sustainability has many meanings – sustainable fashion, ethical fashion, fair trade fashion and slow fashion being the most common. Although they have different meanings as you will see below, they are part of the same movement: fast fashion.
There are many production processes, such as fabric dyeing, which are very toxic to the environment. The textile industry is one of the top three water-wasting industries, in fact the second most polluting industry in the world, right after oil. The only way that fast fashion can be so affordable is through cheap labour, which can be detrimental to the workers themselves and their communities.
My designs are made from long-lasting, ethical fabrics. I design with an intention to offer timeless designs that don’t go out of fashion, have an outstanding couture level quality, and should stay in your closet for many years.
I work with the best European fabrics manufacturer who invested in the new technologies to create environmentally-friendly fabrics, such as sustainably grown fibre crops or recycled materials. I always ask for EU certifications showing that there are no harmful chemicals used.
My production is done in a very small Lithuanian factory run by women only. They all have been paid good wages and are proud of their job. I plan production quantities very carefully not to over produce, so I don’t end up with stock at the end of the season. I often take pre-orders from clients. We also have been in discussions to partner up with a clothing-rental company who would be taking some of our older stock to rent/resell for the high-end market.
What challenges do you face making your brand sustainable?
It is still hard to find good suppliers for fabrics and trimmings. Very often, I have an idea of what I want to make but can’t find suitable sustainable fabrics. I am hoping that soon industry will have a huge reform and change ways of manufacturing.
What do you think needs to change globally to make the fashion industry more sustainable and environmentally friendly long term?
You need to ask yourself: “Do I want to support a brand that does not care about doing their best to make a change?”
We discard so many clothes every year. From an environmental point of view, fast fashion which encourages a throwaway mentality, is very unsustainable. We all need to shop less and invest in well made, timeless, sustainable basics with few new pieces and accessories. I already see a big shift especially in the younger generation; they are much more aware of the tragic situation with the planet’s pollution.
Alex Riviere wedding dress Gia. Photo by Luis Monteiro
With online shopping surging to new heights since the pandemic, ss there still a big demand for traditional retail shopping?
I think there is still a demand for traditional shopping, but with a twist. It has to be more than just opening a shop and hoping the customers will come. There is huge competition and new brands popping up every day.
Customers want more personalised service. I find it so annoying in those rare moments when I walk into an actual store and the sales assistant tells me they don’t have my size so I end up looking online to find that item. Stores must be inspirational; a real experience of what the brand is about with exceptional customer service.
We are offering our London-based customers a ‘try before you buy’ service, where our driver delivers part of the collection and waits for customers to try the clothing on.
What are your brand goals and objectives for the future?
My goal is to build brand awareness internationally. We already have a great list of loyal customers in London, Monaco, New York, Miami, and Atlanta. My next project is to show in Dallas, Miami, Palm Beach, and Paris. We want to grow organically and build loyal customers who appreciate our philosophy.
You’re currently based in London but used to reside in Monaco. Tell us about your time in Monaco and what you love about the Principality?
I spent five years in Monaco. It was a special time for me as both of my kids were born there. The expat community was so big and I saw a great potential to create a high-end children’s club, which did not exist at the time. Sort of a Soho house for kids. It was an instant success. We had 400 members within one year. Some of the most important families such as Prince Albert, Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton, Novak Djokovic and many more trusted their children into our care. We had an incredible sense of community.
Once again, I had to put myself into the “customer’s shoes” – children – to imagine what they would love to experience. For instance, Roger Moore’s grandchildren were members so we thought it would be a fun idea to have him come read stories for little members of the club. It was such a great success and a beautiful memory.
The city was so easy to raise children. It is a safe place, where you can walk pretty much anywhere, and the sunny climate is a huge bonus. I am missing the simplicity of life there, but at some point, I felt I needed to get back into the big city buzz.
Monaco Life quick fire round
Describe your personal style: My style is feminine. I am not a “fashion victim”, I don’t like loud clothing. I prefer to dress understated, elegant and sleek. During the day I wear blazers, trousers, and silk shirts, and in the evening elegant dresses or jumpsuits.
Who is your style icon and why: As I mentioned above, Lauren Hutton alongside Jackie Kennedy, Grace Kelly, and Kate Middleton all represent true elegance and are not “ordinary” women. I like strong women with a great personality.
The last item of clothing you added to your wardrobe: That’s a little hard to define as I keep most of my new collection pieces for myself and try to buy as little as possible from other brands. I recently went to NYC and got a new pair of jeans from the brand I love and can’t find in London.
The grooming staple you’re never without: Tinted SPF moisturiser and a good hand cream.
In your fridge you’ll always find: Avocados, berries, oat milk and smoked salmon.
Your guiltiest pleasure: Red wine and cheese.
Your wellbeing gurus are: Jay Shetty and Tiffany Cruikshank
Your favourite website: Luisa Via Roma
The trip that You’re looking forward to next: Japan, a food trip I have been planning for some years now.
The best book you’ve read in the past year: The Art of Living by Thich Nhat Hanh
Your greatest fear: That one of my children would get seriously ill.
What makes you unhappy: When I am crazy busy and don’t have time for my family and calm moments with yoga and meditation.
What would your superpower be? A smile.
What keeps you awake at night? I often find myself trying to solve problems when I am in bed. I have had insomnia for years, but am dealing much better with it now. Meditation and regular yoga helped me a lot.
Your most treasured possession? Our pet labrador named Blue, and family photos, along with my grandmother’s engagement ruby ring.
What happens when we die? People have believed in the afterlife for thousands of years, so it would be strange for me to say that they are wrong. But the concept of an afterlife for me is pure comfort. There is no evidence for belief in an afterlife or something else entirely as of today. It’s a matter of faith.
Jayne Blight has established an enviable reputation as a style guru. A freelance fashion stylist who has worked in the luxury fashion industry for 20 years, she is an online luxury fashion Influencer, a devotee of detoxing, and is passionate about combining fitness and healthy good looks with a stylish wardrobe.
Monaco victory sets up heavyweight final clash against Lyon
AS Monaco Basketball scraped past Pau-Lacq-Orthez (83-85) on Thursday to reach the final of the French championship, where they will meet their old nemesis Lyon-Villeurbanne in a five-game series.
Monaco have already faced Lyon four times this season, twice in the domestic division and twice in the Euroleague. Currently they are tied on two wins apiece, whilst, apart from a sizeable victory for the Roca Team back in January, fine margins have decided matters.
Monaco also have previous for meeting them in the play-offs. Asvel defeated them in the quarter-finals in 2016/17, in the semi-finals in 2015/16 and in the finals in 2018/19. Since then, however, Monaco have made huge strides, they are now a European force, and Lyon can therefore expect a greater challenge.
After two straightforward ties at the Salle Gaston Médecin in Monaco, the Roca Team haven’t had things all their way over in Pau. Having lost the first tie earlier in the week, Sasa Obradovic’s men were given a scare once again on Thursday night as they had to hold on to secure their progression.
Pau, with the support of the home crowd, got off to a solid start and grew a small advantage in the first-quarter. Wary of falling into the same trap as they did in the third tie of the series, Monaco fought back as they took the reins of the match and dictated the tempo.
After imposing themselves in a dominant second and third quarter, the victory looked to be sealed as they went into the final 10 with a 13-point gap to their opponent (55-68). However, Brandon Jefferson, who has been a thorn in Monaco’s side throughout the series, came to the fore, shooting three-pointers with pinpoint accuracy as he accumulated a monstrous 34 points on the night.
But it wasn’t enough. Monaco clung on to avoid a fifth-leg decider at the Salle Gaston Médecin, and progress to the Betclic Elite final.
Post-match, Obradovic reflected on the victory: “We knew it wasn’t going to be easy. The way they played, with a big temperament was proof of that. We have worked all year to get to the final, and now we’re in a very good position to go and get what we want.”
In the hunt to end their spectacular season with silverware, Monaco must first travel to Lyon for the first two legs of the final, beginning on Wednesday, whilst basketball returns to the Principality on Monday 20th June.
Prince Albert officially opened the Top Marques supercar show on Thursday in Monaco ahead of the busy four-day event that features the absolute best in luxury cars and all things automotive.
After two years impacted by the Covid-19 health crisis, Top Marques returns to the Grimaldi Forum from Thursday 9th to Sunday 12th June as big and as bold as ever.
Filling the exhibition centre are the most incredible contemporary cars by everyone from Bentley, Aston Martin and Rolls Royce, to McLaren, Maserati and Lamborghini.
Top Marques is more than just the world’s most prestigious supercar show. Two wheelers also feature heavily, as well as flying craft such as Mc-Clic’s new manned drone, and Monaco-made Esurf, an electric surfboard.
In officially opening this year’s Top Marques ahead of the public at midday, Prince Albert toured the Grimaldi Forum, meeting with exhibitioners and seeing first-hand the incredible vehicles on display, as well as unveiling some world-premiers.
Highlights include the Deus Vayanne, an electric hypercar derived from Formula 1 pedigree by Deus Automobiles, Italdesign, and Williams Advanced Engineering; McLaren’s new supercar Artura – dubbed the supercar for the next generation; and Jetson AeroOne, a one-man electric helicopter, one of three flying machines at this year’s show.
Thierry Boutsen with his winning Shelby Cobra, photo by Monaco Life
For the first time in Top Marques history, the entire ground floor of the Grimaldi Forum has been dedicated to classic cars, organised by Thierry Boutsen from Boutsen Classic Cars – a venture the former F1 driver only started three years ago.
“It is quite an emotional thing, I mean these cars have been living for 60 years and they are still in top condition, sometimes better than new,” Thierry Boutsen told Monaco Life. “Some, like the GT40 for instance, is in exactly the same condition as it was in 1969… the colour, the edging, the gear box … they are all the same. So, all the collectors come here because they have a passion for these types of cars and they can also buy them.”
Some standout favourites for the Belgium, who has enjoyed three Formula 1 successes with Williams-Renault, include the Shelby Cobra that he won the Tour Auto rally in France this year driving.
“Another favourite is the GT40 next to it, a fabulous car built in the 1960s that still looks like a modern car. We have a former F1 Benetton, that Michael Schumacher won the Canadian GP with. We have the jaguar e-type, BMW M1, an old Porsche from 53, and also a 911 which has been totally electrified with a similar system that powers a Tesla today.”
Top Marques runs until Sunday 12th June.
Visit Monaco Life Instagram to see videos of Top Marques 2022, and click on the gallery below to see more of our images…
Top photo: Manuel Vitali, Government Communication Department
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