I traveled to Monaco and experienced the F1 Grand Prix like a celebrity: Inside the parties, big race and more
Attending the Formula 1 Grand Prix in Monaco is a dream for most people — but mine became a reality last weekend when Page Six digital managing editor Ally D’Aluisio and I traveled from NYC to Monte Carlo for the big event.
The VIP treatment started as soon as we touched down in Nice, France, and were met by a Blade helicopter representative who escorted us from a commercial flight to a private vehicle that drove us straight to the airport’s helipad.
Before I knew it, the copter had lifted off, and we were met with breathtaking views of the French Riviera.
In addition to the spectacular scenery, the helicopter flight gave us another beautiful gift — time.
Instead of making a drive that could take up to an hour, or being at the mercy of public transportation, we flew right over the water and arrived in Monaco in just seven minutes.
Before we knew it, we landed in the billionaires’ playground and made our way to the Fairmont Monte Carlo — and that’s where the fun officially began.
Monaco is known for its affluent residents and luxurious activities, but the sheer opulence of the country became apparent from the second I opened my eyes and saw numerous yachts right outside my balcony.
That number only grew as we got closer to Sunday’s Grand Prix, and soon enough you could hardly see the water due to the sheer amount of luxury vessels parked there.
The Circuit de Monaco is one of the most prestigious and challenging F1 tracks in the world, forcing drivers to complete 78 laps around the principality’s streets, which contain sharp turns, tunnels and more.
The track is known for its iconic hairpin curve, one of the most recognizable corners of the Monaco Grand Prix.
It is the slowest turn on the track, ensuring the best vantage point of the race cars — and we scored an exclusive invitation to Baccarat and Lilly’s coveted suite inside the Fairmont which overlooks it.
The vibe in the suite was pure elegance, with Baccarat crystals adorning the space and an award-winning bartender creating creating sophisticated, high-end cocktails.
And the luxe life didn’t stop there.
We were later escorted to Lilly’s nightclub for an exclusive tour, during which the entrance was lined with more than $50 million worth of cars.
Before even walking inside the club we saw a Bugatti, Pagani, McLaren and even a silver Porsche 550 Spyder — the type of car in which James Dean died.
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“We’re talking about more than $10M [for the Bugatti],” Matthieu Bigot, co-founder and CEO of the Car Collector App, told us.
Monaco is known to be the home of some of the most prestigious clubs on the French Riviera, and nights can get pretty wild when the Grand Prix rolls around.
Lilly’s had an incredible three-night lineup of deejays the Martinez Brothers, Rampa and Peggy Gou, followed by a closing evening performance by Travis Scott.
Celebrities including Odell Beckham Jr., Winnie Harlow, Kyle Kuzma, Will.i.am and Jason Oppenheim flocked to the club to catch the performances.
There were bottles poppin’ and caviar bumps flowing — and just like the stars, I had to take part in the festivities.
On Sunday, I felt like a champion watching the Grand Prix from the Nikki Beach rooftop, where celebrities like Jennifer Lopez, Kendall and Kylie Jenner and the Hadid sisters have partied in the past.
But the real winner of the weekend was 26-year-old Charles Leclerc, who became the first Monégasque to win the Monaco Grand Prix in 93 years — a dream he’s had since he was a child.
He celebrated his first victory in his hometown with the Ferrari Formula 1 team by diving headfirst into Port Hercules wearing an almost $300,000 Richard Mille watch that, fortunately, is water-resistant up to 30 meters.
After spending a week taking in the sights, sounds, food and shopping excursions, as well as attending the most sought-out motorsport in the world, attending the Monaco Grand Prix finally has been checked off my bucket list.
