Page 47 - Paddock Life Issue 13 ADRENALINE

The sun was out and it was hot for Saturdays qualifying session, I did the usual pit lane walk before the session started, then watched as one of the top Williams guys was told he didn‘t have access to the garages, including his drivers support staff directly before qualifying by a rather rude young chap with clearly more power than ability to read. I‘m sure he eventually got through as his team qualified both cars, but I imagine it’s not what you really need before a race.
I usually gauge Monaco by how long it takes me to drive from A to B once the circuit opens... previous years from start line to say the Meridian hotel could take hours, this year I seemed able to wizz around as easily as I had when there a few weeks before. So was the Monaco F1 weekend loosing its lustre?
Monaco is the original strutting ground for the rich and famous, a constant parade of wealth. Lines of supercars ferry beautiful people from glamorous boats to expensive nightclub tables, dripping in expensive jewellery and wearing the finest high fashion. But this year it seems most of them had taken a break and left it to the corporate crowds... the usual display of fans and parties on balconies looked decidedly depleted and the marina seemed to be occupied by accountants and lawyers entertaining clients rather than Euro party people. I‘m sure they all had a great time, but the balance just seemed a little off. I remember one year watching the race start from the roof of the Fairmont before taking a taxi to Fontvieille marina, then a tender to a boat party for the rest of the race, the atmosphere back then was electric, today it all seemed very “organised“ as if the cost of the ticket and the profit margin on it had overtaken everything else. Which is a great shame.
The highlight of our Monaco weekend was our Saturday night dinner at one of my favourite little spots on the marina at Beulieu-sur-mer where I find ordering is always best left to waitress Chloe as she will always find us a table and her selections have never disappointed.
So as we head back home John and I wonder how the new owners Liberty media will start to ring the changes to re engage fans to put the sparkle back into the greatest and most glamorous sport on earth.
SILVERSTONE
IMAGES JOHN J BREEN
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