In the sparkling setting of Monte-Carlo, the Monaco Grand Prix on Saturday, May 24, 2025, transformed into a fascinating stage where pure speed meets the elegance of power.
While Lando Norris clinched pole position in a dramatic showdown against Charles Leclerc and Oscar Piastri, the paddocks buzzed with a constellation of personalities shaping today’s world. Monaco remains that unique blend where Formula 1 naturally attracts the pinnacle of global influence.
Prince Albert II of Monaco reigned supreme, embodying the Monegasque tradition that makes the Grand Prix much more than a race: it is an essential diplomatic and cultural event.
Among the notable attendees was Monaco resident Flavio Briatore, whose familiar silhouette graced the paddocks. Beside him, Bernard Arnault, Europe’s richest man and the French luxury empire LVMH’s titan, watched the mechanical ballet with the eye of someone who intimately understands the codes of excellence.
French football was magnificently represented by Zinedine Zidane, an eternal legend whose grace on the pitch finds a natural echo in Monaco’s elegance.
Among the drivers competing, Liam Lawson, the young New Zealand talent from Racing Bulls, continued his rise toward the pinnacle of Formula 1, while Max Verstappen, three-time world champion with Red Bull, and Fernando Alonso, the two-time world champion now with Aston Martin, embodied the sporting excellence of this generation.
Flavy Barla, Miss Côte d’Azur 2022 and partner of Esteban Ocon, added the essential local glamour to the unique atmosphere of the Grand Prix, while Sir Jackie Stewart, the Scottish legend and three-time world champion of the 1970s, reminded all that Monaco transcends generations without ever losing its magic.
The cinematic arts were splendidly represented by Lee Jung-jae, the South Korean actor who became a global star thanks to his role in “Squid Game,” and the first Asian man to win the Emmy for Best Actor in a Drama Series. His presence highlighted the globalization of entertainment that now makes Monaco a global cultural crossroads.
Among the paddock personalities, David Coulthard, the former Scottish driver turned respected consultant, and Christian Horner, the strategic director of Red Bull Racing, embodied the tactical intelligence that makes Formula 1 as much a mental sport as a physical one. Alexandra Saint Mleux, partner of Charles Leclerc and a renowned influencer, completed this tableau where sport and digital modernity converge.
In just a few hours, on Sunday, May 25 at 3:00 PM local time, the 78 laps of the Monaco Circuit will begin. Yet already, in the paddocks on Saturday, another race was underway — the race of power, influence, and glamour that makes Monaco an eternal theater of the world.
