Superyachts and Formula One: Creating the Ultimate Event Experience

Monaco is perhaps most synonymous with two things: superyachts and the Grand Prix. It would be rather audacious to argue that the Monaco Grand Prix is anything other than the most prestigious race in motorsport.  The romance and tradition of the race, coupled with one of the most difficult and demanding circuits, makes a win in Monaco that bit extra special for drivers.

The iconic setting of Monaco also adds an extra layer of excitement for fans and visitors, with unique opportunities for event experiences. We caught up with Jonny Dodge, founder of yacht brokerage My Ocean and CEO of F1 Hospitality company GPM Experiences, to discuss the growing synergy between superyachts and the Formula One.

Having been given his big break in Formula 1 by Bernie Ecclestone, Jonny has gone on to bring a fresh new approach to experiences across the F1 and superyacht worlds. Even after working in Monaco for the last 15 years, the race still has an unwavering grandeur.

“It’s why they call it the jewel in the crown of F1, right? It’s got that magic to it,” says Jonny. “Any street race has that magic and that’s what creates an exciting opportunity for people to create interesting hospitality platforms outside of the normal race weekend.”

Port Hercule will once again be a vibrant scene of superyachts overlooking the race come the end of May, and in terms of event experiences there really is nothing that compares.

“Pretty much every race in the calendar, you’re in the grandstand or in suites above grandstand hospitality. There are those rare chances where you get to be in a street race or around a marina like Monaco or Abu Dhabi, where you can be watching it from an incredible rooftop, a restaurant, bar, and, of course, from a superyacht. That makes the whole experience a lot more exciting.”

Bespoke itineraries put together for guests visiting the Grand Prix can encompass everything from arranging private jets into Nice airport, helicopters across to Monaco, luxury hotel hospitality, and tenders to the race. To then experience the race weekend from the back of a superyacht surrounded by celebrity guests doesn’t sound too bad either. Yet, it is not just guests that will revel in the Monaco environment.

“We’ve been working a lot with teams and sponsors to help create exciting activations over the weekend,” continues Jonny. “Being one of the first European races of the season, it’s a draw for a lot of brands and provides the opportunity to do something different.

“They’re constantly stuck in their own paddock club suites and very standard things. Here, we’re talking to brands about doing incredible parties on boats and of course it’s also during the Cannes Film Festival, so you have a lot of celebrities in town and we can host great parties and events over the race weekend.

“As soon as the race finishes, you’re on the track where parties will happen and it’s a wild night. Whether you want to party down at Rascasse or you’re going to the Amber Lounge to dance away with celebrities or any of the big galas. We get involved in every aspect as a Formula One activation agency.”

The platform of superyachts is being recognised and replicated in tandem with other Grand Prix across the world, drawing inspiration from the longstanding success and synergy the two have in Monaco. As an event platform, superyachts negate the need for high spends on production that would usually be the case when renting other spaces, providing further incentives for corporate hosts.

It was at the last Abu Dhabi Grand Prix that Jonny hosted F1 icon Lewis Hamilton onboard a superyacht for a sponsor event, while Miami drew a lot of attention for its introduction of a ‘fake marina’ alongside its track. Yachts are becoming more and more a permanent fixture of the ultimate F1 experience.

“Liberty, the owners of Formula One, are very much driving to create exciting entertainment platforms, as are the race promoters themselves. We’ve been approached by races like Bahrain, who have asked us how to recreate the exciting experiences we have in places like Monaco and Abu Dhabi, but around their circuit.

“Miami has done that well. As much as people joke about it, it does create that ambience. They have beach club pools and all these different types of setups. The environment is definitely there and that’s what people are really looking for.

“So, I think there is going to be a big drive towards it.”

While we can certainly expect to see continued growth in the involvement of superyachts at Formula One events, Monaco will remain a home in more than metaphorical terms.

“I mean, it’s their home too. The majority of drivers and key personalities in F1 live in Monaco, so often that night they stay in their own home, which makes it such a different experience. And of course, you’ve got Charles Leclerc who has his home race that weekend. Everything about it just makes it magic.”