Monaco and Formula 1: Where Racing Legends Build Their Lives Beyond the Track

As the countdown to the Monaco Grand Prix begins, the Principality once again prepares to transform nearly 10% of its territory into Formula 1’s most iconic street circuit. But beyond the roaring engines and glitz of race weekend, Monaco serves as much more than a racing venue — it’s a hub of residence, investment, and philanthropy for many F1 drivers, past and present.

Monaco: Home to F1’s Elite

Monaco isn’t just a place where drivers race — it’s where many of them live, build businesses, and give back to the community. The tiny state, with a population of around 38,400, boasts the highest concentration of Formula 1 drivers on Earth. In fact, about one in every 3,200 residents is a current F1 driver.

At least 12 current F1 stars call Monaco home, including local hero Charles Leclerc, and reportedly Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen, George Russell, Lando Norris, Daniel Ricciardo, Alex Albon, Valtteri Bottas, and Nico Hülkenberg (as cited by Condé Nast, HELLO! Magazine, The Standard UK, and others).

Retired legends who have lived or invested in Monaco include David Coulthard, Thierry Boutsen, Jenson Button, Mika Häkkinen, Nico Rosberg, Mark Webber, Paul di Resta, Antonio Giovinazzi, and Daniil Kvyat — many of whom maintain deep ties with the Principality.

 Life Beyond the Circuit: Business and Innovation

Collectively, these drivers hold a combined net worth estimated at nearly €1 billion (Forbes), and many are channeling their earnings into ventures rooted in or managed from Monaco. Here’s a look at how some of them are shaping the Principality through entrepreneurship:

• Charles Leclerc has launched LEC, a Monaco-based artisanal ice cream brand.

• Thierry Boutsen runs Boutsen Aviation, a firm specializing in private jet sales, employing an entire team of former pilots.

• Lewis Hamilton is deeply involved in sustainability, green tech, and fashion — many of these initiatives are tied to Monaco in operations or influence.

• David Coulthard was a former owner of the Columbus Hotel in Monte Carlo.

• Lando Norris founded Quadrant, a gaming and lifestyle brand, which has operations partly based in Monaco.

• Nico Rosberg co-founded the GREENTECH FESTIVAL and is an active venture capitalist focused on sustainability from his Monaco base.

• Max Verstappen has interests in brand partnerships and e-sports, aligning his competitive spirit with digital innovation.

Giving Back: A Culture of Philanthropy

Beyond business, many F1 drivers play a vital role in Monaco’s philanthropic landscape. Several are ambassadors for local causes and actively support community initiatives.

Charles Leclerc, Mika Häkkinen, and Valtteri Bottas, for example, serve as ambassadors for the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation, participating in campaigns that promote youth empowerment and water safety.

More Than a Race — A Way of Life

For many F1 professionals, the Monaco Grand Prix is not the end goal but part of a larger lifestyle rooted in wealth management, innovation, and community engagement. Monaco is where their careers on the track meet legacies built off it — in boardrooms, foundations, and across industries.

So as the engines fire up and the streets of Monte Carlo echo with the thrill of the Grand Prix, remember: the finish line here often marks the start of a new chapter for Formula 1’s brightest stars.

PrideNomad: LGBTQ+ Life on the French Riviera

 

Not long ago, I had the pleasure of reconnecting with a friend, Ken Krell, whom I hadn’t seen in well over a decade—since he visited my hometown of Vancouver. After a few email exchanges, I learned that Ken has launched an exciting venture called PrideNomad.

PrideNomad is a multifaceted initiative that empowers LGBTQ+ individuals to live a location-independent lifestyle. Knowing Ken’s long-standing passion for travel—he’s been a digital nomad for over 15 years—it makes perfect sense that he would create a platform like this. PrideNomad provides a wealth of resources specifically tailored to the unique needs of LGBTQ+ digital nomads and remote workers.

Given my own side project managing Gay French Riviera, Ken suggested we collaborate on a podcast for the PrideNomad community. So, back in early February, despite the time difference with him based in Miami, we set up a time for a fun and engaging conversation.

 

During the podcast, we chatted about everyday life here in the French Riviera, how open and welcoming the LGBTQ+ community is in this part of the world, and even a few stories from my past—including my time managing bathhouses in Canada to now working in luxury real estate across the Côte d’Azur.

If you're considering stepping into the world of location independence, PrideNomad offers a robust platform to help you get started. From weekly updates and practical advice to a global LGBTQ+ travel directory and exclusive perks, it’s a valuable resource. The platform features:

• Access to LGBTQ+-friendly destinations
  

• Curated tours and travel deals
  

• Real-time local event updates
  

• Information on safe and inclusive workspaces

Whether you're just beginning to explore remote work or already living the nomadic life, PrideNomad is a powerful community-driven resource to help guide your journey.

Follow PrideNomad through the links provided and stay informed on all their latest offerings.

And in the meantime, feel free to check out our newly released podcast episode on Spotify—it’s a lighthearted and informative listen that we hope you'll enjoy.

ILGA-Europe Rainbow Map 2025: What it means for France and Monaco

 

As of May 2025, the ILGA-Europe Rainbow Map provides a comprehensive assessment of LGBTQ+ rights across 49 European countries, evaluating them based on 75 criteria spanning seven categories: equality and non-discrimination, family, hate crime and hate speech, legal gender recognition, intersex bodily integrity, civil society space, and asylum. Here's an overview of France and Monaco's standings:

🇫🇷 France: Progress Amidst Challenges

Overall Score: 62% (13th place in 2024, down from 10th in 2023)
Key Areas:

• Equality & Non-Discrimination: France has national equality action plans effectively implemented, addressing sexual orientation and gender identity.

• Family Rights: Same-sex marriage and adoption are legal.

• Hate Crime & Hate Speech: Protections exist, but enforcement and societal attitudes vary.

• Legal Gender Recognition: Procedures require judicial approval and evidence, which can be burdensome.

• Intersex Bodily Integrity: No legislation prohibits non-consensual medical interventions on intersex minors.

• Civil Society Space: Active, with governmental support, but concerns over rising anti-LGBTQ+ sentiments.

• Asylum: LGBTQ+ individuals can seek asylum, but specific protections are limited.

Recent Developments:

• In March 2024, the French Congress amended Article 34 of the Constitution to guarantee the right to voluntary termination of pregnancy, extending this right to all individuals, including trans men.

• The Court of Justice of the European Union ruled against the French railway company's requirement for passengers to select "Mr" or "Ms" when buying tickets, deeming it unnecessary and potentially discriminatory.

• Activists have called for nationwide protests following controversial reports on minors' rights to gender care, highlighting ongoing societal debates.

Recommendations:

• Develop a transparent legal framework for gender recognition based on self-determination, free from abusive requirements.

• Prohibit non-essential medical interventions on intersex minors without informed consent.

• Ensure that access to public subsidies for civil society organizations is not contingent upon refraining from criticizing government actions.

  

  🇲🇨 Monaco: Minimal Legal Protections

  Overall Score: 0% (Among the lowest in Europe)
  Key Areas:

• Equality & Non-Discrimination: No comprehensive anti-discrimination laws protecting LGBTQ+ individuals.

• Family Rights: Same-sex unions are recognized through cohabitation agreements since June 2020, offering limited rights.

• Hate Crime & Hate Speech: Hate speech and incitement to hatred based on sexual orientation are banned.

• Legal Gender Recognition: No legal or administrative process exists for individuals to change their legal gender.

• Intersex Bodily Integrity: No specific protections or legislation.

• Civil Society Space: Limited engagement with LGBTQ+ activists; however, events like Monaco Pride have been celebrated.

• Asylum: No specific provisions for LGBTQ+ asylum seekers.
  

Recent Developments:

• In May 2024, footballer Mohamed Camara received a four-match suspension after covering an LGBTQ+ support badge on his jersey, highlighting tensions around LGBTQ+ visibility in sports.

• Monaco Pride celebrated its third edition in June 2024, with over 150 attendees, including members of the royal family, indicating growing social acceptance.

• As of May 16, 2025 the Monaco LGBTIA+ Association (Mon’ Arc En Ciel) will be celebrating one year of Advocacy.

• Monaco Pride takes place this year on July 10th.
  

Recommendations:

• Engage proactively with LGBTQ+ activists to develop and implement legal protections.

• Establish procedures for legal gender recognition.

• Enact comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation covering sexual orientation, gender identity, and sex characteristics.

Understanding the Rainbow Map

The Rainbow Map serves as a benchmarking tool, illustrating the legal and policy landscape for LGBTQ+ individuals across Europe. A higher score indicates robust protections and equality measures, while a lower score highlights areas needing significant improvement.

France's moderate score reflects both progress and ongoing challenges, whereas Monaco's minimal score underscores the need for substantial legal reforms to ensure LGBTQ+ rights and protections.

For more detailed information, you can explore the interactive Rainbow Map.

"BEING: Guidance in How to BE Rather Than How to DO" by Alicia Sedgwick

 

In her illuminating latest book BEING: Guidance in How to BE Rather Than How to DO, Alicia Sedgwick invites readers on a transformative journey inward—away from the relentless culture of productivity and performance, and toward a deeper, more meaningful presence with ourselves and the world around us.

Known for her work in public speaking and communication coaching, Sedgwick shifts her focus from external expression to internal grounding, offering a guidebook for anyone seeking peace, authenticity, and self-awareness in a fast-paced world.

 

At the core of BEING lies a profound, yet simple premise: that we are not defined by what we do, but by who we are. Sedgwick explores the often-overlooked power of stillness, presence, and acceptance. Rather than prescribing yet another checklist for personal development or success, she encourages readers to let go of the constant urge to achieve, fix, or improve—and instead, to be with themselves fully, as they are.

This is not a call to inaction, but a redefinition of action itself. Sedgwick emphasizes that authentic doing must arise from a centered, grounded being. She uses personal stories, practical insights, and gentle exercises to lead readers into a place of mindfulness and inner alignment, where decisions and actions flow naturally, rather than being forced.

While the book is spiritual in tone, it is grounded in accessible language and practical guidance. Each chapter unfolds like a conversation with a wise mentor—calm, compassionate, and clear. Topics such as self-worth, emotional resilience, trust, and surrender are explored not as lofty ideals, but as lived experiences. Sedgwick does not shy away from the realities of pain, uncertainty, and vulnerability. Instead, she shows how these experiences can become pathways to deeper presence and self-acceptance.

 

One of the most compelling aspects of BEING is its focus on intuition and inner truth. Sedgwick encourages readers to listen to the quiet voice within, to reclaim a relationship with their inner guidance system that is so often drowned out by external expectations. In doing so, she provides a gentle but powerful antidote to the overwhelm of modern life.

Whether you’re a professional feeling burned out by the constant pressure to perform, a seeker on a spiritual path, or simply someone looking for more peace and clarity in your daily life, BEING offers nourishment for the soul. It’s a book to read slowly, to return to, and to let sink in.

Alicia Sedgwick’s voice is both soothing and empowering—inviting readers not to strive for transformation, but to relax into it. In a world obsessed with doing, BEING is a breath of fresh air: a reminder that we are already whole, already enough, and that sometimes, the most courageous thing we can do is simply be.

 

As a friend and someone deeply admired not only in Monaco but throughout the region, I see Alicia and her partner, Annette Anderson, as cherished figures within the LGBTQ+ community. They embody strength and offer invaluable mentorship—something profoundly needed in today’s world.

BEING: Guidance in How to BE Rather Than How to DO is more than a book—it’s a companion for those ready to step off the treadmill of busyness and into the sanctuary of presence. Alicia Sedgwick doesn’t teach you how to become someone else; she gently shows you how to come home to yourself.

Get your copy of BEING today on Amazon and other online retail platforms.