During Monaco Grand Prix weekend, Ferrari traded the conventional hospitality suite for a superyacht sanctuary.
The Formula 1 Paddock Club has long represented the pinnacle of trackside hospitality, but Ferrari has taken the concept even further with the Ferrari GP Club. Hosted aboard the 154-foot superyacht Liquid Sky during the Monaco Grand Prix, the invitation-only experience combines luxury yachting, fine dining and front-row viewing into one of F1’s most exclusive hospitality offerings.
Naturally, the floating Club occupies one of Port Hercule’s most coveted berths during race weekend, moored stern to right outside the Fairmont Tunnel. It was from here, ensconced on the 92-foot sundeck with a Tifosi cocktail in hand, where I watched the cars blast out the tunnel, brake hard into the Nouvelle Chicane, and accelerate down into the Tabac corner. If the plethora of painted “Forza Charles” banners draped from apartment balconies didn’t tell me we were in Leclerc country, the roar from the crowd every time his iconic number 16 car screamed down the harbor stretch certainly did.
Relocating Ferrari’s premium hospitality offering to a superyacht is a step up for both guests and the team. “Well, this is much better than the Paddock Club!” said Fred Vasseur, Ferrari team principle, as he entered the yacht’s light and airy main saloon. Leclerc’s new race helmet rested behind him, personalized with “JB17” in tribute to his late friend and F1 driver Jules Bianchi. On the coffee table, a signed pair of Leclerc’s Rosso Scuderia racing boots, neatly displayed like modern art.
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Entry to the Ferrari GP Club is limited to around 100 invitees. Ticket costs vary per package but start in the region of €8,000 each (approx. $9,141). This year, that included 25 of VistaJet’s Private World members whose race weekend, like mine, began aboard a silver-with-a-red-stripe aircraft landing directly into Nice’s private terminal, before being whisked by Bentley to the Port of Fontvieille to catch a tender to the yacht.
Minutes after arriving, I was ushered into an intimate tasting hosted by Perrier-Jouët, Ferrari’s long-standing champagne partner. Elaborately decorated bottles, adorned by the Chanel atelier, were displayed at the main deck entrance setting the tone for the experience. I found myself returning to the delicate Blanc de Blancs Belle Epoque 2013, which, along with endless trays of canapés, flowed freely throughout the day.
As the heat ramped up, I sought respite inside and discovered the SkinCeuticals counter, complete with makeup artists ready to refresh your look. Baskets of the premium skincare line’s suncream were dotted around on deck, along with an exquisite ceviche station. The yacht’s oak wood, bronze accented decor remained largely unchanged, save for temporary carpet fitted throughout to allow guests to keep their shoes on while onboard (a yachting rarity). Though the biggest luxury of a club of this nature is the serene onboard ambience and large shaded areas, a sharp contrast to the heat-ravaged dockside.
For Leclerc, who won the British Grand Prix just last weekend, luxury in F1 is less about extravagance than personalization. “I think probably the fact that things are tailored to you, that’s what luxury is,» he said during an intimate gathering. “The experience for guests coming to a F1 race is very much about creating something tailored to them.”
That philosophy was evident throughout the Ferrari GP Club and reflected the tight seven-year partnership between Ferrari and VistaJet. Thomas Flohr, the billionaire founder and chairman of VistaJet, competes at the highest levels of GT and endurance racing. He famously took second place at Le Mans in 2018 behind the wheel of a Ferrari 488 GTE. As a strategic business partner of the Maranello-based manufacturer, Flohr’s decision to support the Scuderia Ferrari race team by flying them privately throughout Grand Prix season was “the obvious choice,” says Jennifer Farquhar, VistaJet’s director of group communications.
That mindset is now evolving further. In 2027, VistaJet will introduce its Jet Lag Program, a new initiative aimed at refining recovery and circadian performance for those constantly crossing time zones. It’s something that Leclerc is fully onboard with.
“Being at 100 percent from the first race to the last is extremely important for me but traveling the world, not to mention the races themselves, is very tiring,” he said. “Flying privately means I’m rested, focused, and able to concentrate on my performance.” A point proven in 2024 when he became the first Monegasque to win a home-race since Louis Chiron drove to victory in 1931.
This year, that same logic of seamless movement between circuit, sky, and recovery extended beyond the paddock and onto the water. If the 2026 edition is any indication, Ferrari’s most exclusive Monaco vantage point is unlikely to return to dry land anytime soon.
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