With it’s show-stealing scenery and beautiful people, the Monaco Grand Prix is well known for being the most glamorous fixture in the Formula One calendar – and the high-octane event didn’t disappoint today.
Princess Charlene of Monaco, in a daring thigh-split dress, led a crowd of race-goers that included supermodel Bella Hadid, the cream of Europe’s high society and – controversially – an unofficial troupe of grid girls.
And in the cobalt blue waters off this money-drenched enclave, the world’s largest superyacht – owned by Russian billionaire Andrei Melnichenko – rivalled the F1 cars as it sailed into view.
Charlene, 40, cut a demure figure in the chic sleeveless summer frock, with towering heels, as she enjoyed a tour of the F1 race cars.
However, when the chequered flag fell and granted Australian Daniel Ricciardo victory in the race, Charlene was clearly in high spirits and happy to join the victorious Red Bull driver for a swig of the obligatory post-race champers on the podium.
Let’s celebrate! Princess Charlene of Monaco joins Australian F1 driver Daniel Ricciardo after his Red Bull team clinched the top spot on the podium at the Monaco Grand Prix today
Charlene laughs with husband Prince Albert as it’s suggested she sample the winning vintage
The former Olympic swimmer wasted no time in getting to grips with the jeroboam of bubbles as she congratulated the drivers
Daniel Ricciardo lifts his hat as the royal glugs back the Cabbon champagne shortly after the winners were gifted their bottles in Monaco this afternoon
Never too early! The princess, wearing a stunning striped dress with two-tone blue stilettos looked more than happy to help the Red Bull driver celebrate his victory with a gulp of champers
Earlier, the 40-year-old former Olympic swimmer looked on as Ricciardo and Lewis Hamilton sprayed champagne across the stage after gaining crucial points in the Monte Carlo F1 fixture
Racing king! Charlene and Albert of Monaco look on as Ricciardo grins as he takes the top spot
The drivers, including Lewis Hamilton, who managed third place in the latest F1 challenge, take their place on the podium
Princess Charlene turned up the glamour for her second day at the Monaco Grand Prix in a colourful striped look
The 40-year-old royal was all smiles as she wandered around the track with organisers in the sleeveless printed number. Right: Princess Charlene wore her chic short bob swept back from her face to show off her diamond studded earrings
Princess Charlene, 40, appeared at the Grand Prix ahead of the main race with her husband Prince Albert II, 60 on Sunday
Rivalling the Monaco royal in the glamour stakes was a low-key Bella Hadid.
The catwalk queen, 21, was spotted shortly before the highly-race in a textured crop vest – giving onlookers a peek at her slender waistline.
And jetting in from the UK were TOWIE’s Chloe Lewis, sporting F1 red, Made in Chelsea star Emily Blackwell and Australian lingerie model Roxy Horner, who opted for an all white above-the-knee close-fitting dress with dazzling white trainers.
Elsewhere, the grid girls made a dazzling return to the paddock at this weekend’s Monaco Grand Prix despite earlier being banned by Formula One’s owners.
Harking back to the old days of the sport – a troupe of women dressed in racy outfits graced the grid bearing branding from one of F1’s biggest sponsors Tag Heuer.
And despite being a controversial feature of the struggling sport – their presence seemed to go down well with the drivers.
‘Women are the most beautiful thing in the world,’ said defending world champion Lewis Hamilton.
‘Monaco is a very elegant grand prix and when we pull up to the grid and there’s beautiful women on the grid, that’s the Monaco Grand Prix and that’s a lovely thing.’
Beaming: The catwalk queen, 21, was spotted shortly before the highly-race in a textured crop vest – giving onlookers a peek at her slender waistline
Stylish: Looking every inch the fashion maven, the model tied in her outfit with a pair of light-wash jeans, which were slashed at her knees for a trendy ripped effect
Commanding attention: Bella Hadid appeared in great spirits as she attended the Monaco Formula One Grand Prix at Circuit de Monaco in Monte-Carlo on Sunday morning
The race was won by Australian Daniel Ricciardo – pictured casually walking to the grid flanked by the Tag Heuer grid girls
The former Olympic swimmer was also joined by her husband Prince Albert II, 60, who donned a smart suit and shirt as he accompanied his smiling wife.
Princess Charlene stepped out in Monaco on Sunday for the final race after wandering around during the practice races with her husband Prince Albert II on Saturday afternoon.
The striking royal added a pop of pink lipstick to match the colours in her dress which was nipped in at the waist to accentuate her athletic figure.
She also chose a pair of blue stiletto heels to elongate her slender legs and a matching blue bag.
Raising the glamour stakes from yesterday’s casual khaki jumpsuit, Charlene had her short bob swept back off her face to show off her diamond earrings.
TOWIE’s Chloe Lewis goes for F1 red, while Made in Chelsea star Emily Blackwell sports floral satin and Australian lingerie model Roxy Horner opts for an all white above-the-knee dress with dazzling trainers
TOWIE goes to Monaco! Chloe Lewis looked happy to be soaking up the F1 atmosphere. Right: Jake Bugg’s squeeze Roxy Horner strikes a pose
Trackside! Made in Chelsea star Emily Blackwell smiles from the stands ahead of the race
THE GRID GIRLS ARE BACK: MONACO REINSTATES ROLE – DESPITE CALLS FOR ‘SEXIST’ ROLE TO BE AXED
Grid girls made a dazzling return to this weekend’s Monaco Grand Prix despite earlier being banned by Formula One’s owners.
Harking back to the old days of the sport – a troupe of women dressed in racy outfits graced the grid bearing branding from one of F1’s biggest sponsors Tag Heuer.
And despite being a controversial feature of the struggling sport – their presence seemed to go down well with the drivers.
Grid girls were replaced in January by so-called ‘Grid Kids’ – a group of 20 children who had ties to motorsport at grassroots level
Instead of the traditional driver placards, the grid girls walked the paddock with a variety of messages from fans before the race
‘Women are the most beautiful thing in the world,’ said defending world champion Lewis Hamilton.
Formula One’s owners Liberty Media abolished the presence of grid girls at the beginning of the season after declaring they were ‘at odds with modern-day societal norms’.
The company then replaced the models with a group of children involved in grassroots motorsport – dubbing the new scheme ‘Grid Kids’.
As in earlier races this season the 20 children were present at the race, lining up alongside the grid girls at the race.
For the race, renowned as the highlight of the Formula One calendar, Tag Heuer brought in both male and female grid people, although they didn’t hold driver’s race placards as they have done in the past.
Super sailboat: Eyes weren’t entirely on the track in Monaco, after the largest sailing yacht in the world docked in the glamorous enclave this afternoon
Sleek: The extraordinary vessel is owned by Russian billionaire Andrei Melnichenko and dwarfed a smaller yacht as it sailed into town
Grid girls bearing the branding of Tag Heuer, a long term partner of Formula One, appearing at the start of the Monaco Grand Prix on Sunday
Some of the girls with tattoos of their sponsors lined the red carpet to the side of the grid as drivers prepared for the grand prix
A grid girl holding a message to German Formula One Driver Nico Hulkenberg who has never achieved a podium at the famous race
Grid girls were replaced in January by so-called ‘Grid Kids’ – a group of 20 children who had ties to motorsport at grassroots level
Male and female grid girls lining up to form a cordon for the pit lane walk in the moments before the beginning of the race
She wore a pop of pink lipstick to match the colours in her dress. The royal was seemed interested in the cars on show
The fashionable royal donned a pair of bright blue stiletto heels along with a matching blue bag
Charlene been documenting her excitement for the highly-anticipated Monaco Grand Prix on social media
Stylish: The former Olympic swimmer looked every inch the trend-setter as she slipped into a khaki green jumpsuit, which accentuated her incredibly slender frame
On Saturday afternoon Princess Charlene looked every inch the trend-setter as she slipped into a khaki green jumpsuit.
The couple were joined by an array of celebrities during the practice races, including Danish actor Nikolaj Coster-Waldau and F1 ace Lewis Hamilton.
Clearly excited for the races, Princess Charlene shared a photo of her twins Gabriella and Jacques, three, posed inside a toy Formula One race car.
‘Getting ready for the GP’, she captioned the Instagram snap, along with the hashtag #startyourengines.
Stunning: Enhancing her youthful-looking appearance, the Princess of Monaco styled her blonde hair into her trademark chic short bob, and opted for neutral-toned makeup
Stand-out: The Royal commanded attention as she enhanced her statuesque frame in a pair of studded strappy heels and protected her eyes with circle-framed sunglasses
Star-studded: The couple were joined by an array of celebrities during the practice races, including Daniel Ricciardo, Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel and Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton
Ready for race day! A few days ago, Princess Charlene snapped a photo of her children posed in a toy Formula One car
Organizers of the Monte Carlo race are set to defy Formula One’s rulers by employing models before Sunday’s race, and Hamilton has welcomed the return of the grid girls for the Monaco Grand Prix.
Liberty Media abolished the long-standing F1 tradition at the beginning of the year after denouncing the practice as ‘at odds with modern-day societal norms.’
Liberty has since rolled out its grid kids scheme, with 20 children already involved in the junior ranks of motor sport lining up in front of the drivers prior to the start of the race.