– Before the Monaco Grand Prix, the Audi R26 was presented on a magnificent yacht. The luxury boat, worth 75 million US dollars, also served as a stage for the Koenigsegg Jesko.
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Behind the stunt is Tom Claeren, the founder of Ultimate Superyacht. The R26, the Koenigsegg Jesko, and a sculpture in the shape of current Formula 1 cars were loaded onto the decks of the so-called Stella Maris. Shortly after, Claeren was able to promote one of his showpieces with lavish images.
Not only the Formula 1 monoposto, the sculpture, or the luxury yacht fit Monaco in terms of price. The Koenigsegg is expected to cost between 2.8 and 3 million US dollars, complete with a 5-liter twin-turbo engine and up to 1600 hp when using E85. The production series of the car is limited to 125 units.
Luxury Yachts as Part of Tradition
The Monaco Grand Prix has always been considered an eccentric weekend full of tabloid reporting. The multitude of expensive yachts in the principality’s harbor shapes the annual television images from the city-state. Traditionally, the winner of the race is honored with the roaring sound of boat horns.
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Kimi Räikkönen provided the most memorable scene on and next to his own yacht in 2006: After his McLaren MP4/21 broke down in the middle of the race, the later Ferrari driver didn’t go back to the pits, but directly towards his cruiser. Shortly after, a shirtless Räikkönen was seen on the television broadcast.
Formula 1 drivers are and have been anything but averse to owning such luxury goods. A few weeks before the Monaco race, local hero Charles Leclerc, for example, bought a new boat. The price is likely to be around 20 million US dollars.
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Audi’s performance this season has not been particularly lavish so far. After numerous technical errors, they are in ninth place in the Constructors’ Championship.
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