Kimi Antonelli Won the Race - Port Hercules was the Real Spectacle

Kimi Antonelli took a stunning victory on the streets of Monte Carlo, but down in Port Hercules another spectacle was unfolding as Monaco’s floating palace district came alive.

There are bigger motor races. There are faster circuits. There are certainly tracks where overtaking is easier. Yet there is only one Monaco Grand Prix.

Standing beside Port Hercules during the 2026 Monaco Grand Prix weekend, it quickly became clear that while the Formula One cars provided the soundtrack, the harbour itself was every bit as much a star attraction.

From my vantage point overlooking the famous harbour section of the circuit, the scene was almost surreal. Hundreds of millions of pounds worth of superyachts sat bow-to-stern along the quays, packed so tightly together that from a distance they appeared almost like floating apartment blocks. Every available berth was occupied. Radar domes, helipads, sun decks and infinity pools competed for attention while guests mingled on upper decks enjoying what has become one of the most exclusive social events on the planet.

Meanwhile, only a few metres away, Formula One machinery screamed through the harbour section of the circuit.

The contrast was extraordinary. One moment your eye was drawn to a sleek 70-metre yacht hosting a champagne reception. The next, an F1 car flashed past the barriers at astonishing speed before disappearing beneath the famous tunnel.

For sailors, Monaco Grand Prix weekend offers something no other sporting event can replicate. The harbour becomes a temporary showcase for some of the world’s most impressive vessels. Feadships, Lürssens, Benettis, Oceancos and custom-built masterpieces lined the waterfront. Crew members worked tirelessly behind the scenes while owners and guests enjoyed parties that continued long after the racing had finished.

As the weekend progressed, Port Hercules became less of a marina and more of a floating city. Music drifted across the water from yacht decks. Invitations were traded like currency. Helicopters buzzed overhead carrying guests from Nice and Cannes. Luxury tenders darted between vessels carrying passengers to dinners, receptions and late-night celebrations.

The race itself produced a memorable result. Mercedes youngster Kimi Antonelli delivered one of the biggest performances of his rapidly developing Formula One career, taking victory on one of motorsport’s most demanding stages. Winning in Monaco instantly places a driver into a very exclusive club, and Antonelli’s triumph marked what many believe could be the beginning of a remarkable era for the young Italian.

The packed grandstands erupted as he crossed the finish line, but even then the celebrations seemed almost secondary to the spectacle unfolding throughout the harbour.

Monaco has always been different.

Elsewhere, the race is the entire show.

In Monaco, the race is merely the centrepiece of a much larger performance.

The yachts host parties attended by celebrities, business leaders, racing legends and royalty. Waterfront restaurants overflow with guests. Champagne flows freely while deals are struck and friendships renewed against a backdrop of Mediterranean sunshine and Formula One noise.

As evening descended across the Principality, the atmosphere shifted once again. The roar of engines gave way to music.

The harbour lights reflected from polished hulls and calm Mediterranean water. Guests gathered on flybridges and aft decks while conversations drifted between racing, sailing and where the next party might be. Looking across the packed marina, it was impossible not to appreciate the remarkable connection between Monaco and the sea.

Long before Formula One arrived, Monaco was a maritime destination. The harbour remains the heart of the Principality, and during Grand Prix week it becomes the world’s most glamorous marina. For sailors visiting the event, that is perhaps the greatest attraction of all.

Kimi Antonelli may have taken the chequered flag, but down in Port Hercules the superyacht fleet delivered a masterclass of its own. Monaco remains one of the few places on earth where the world’s fastest cars race alongside some of the world’s most extraordinary yachts. And for one spectacular weekend each year, nobody seems entirely sure which attraction steals the show.

This year, it might just have been the boats.